HE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING 

•aasM  ^SJ%^&laSHICH  HAS  BEEN  ALSO 
CALLED  THE  LAND  OF  LIVING  MEN 
OR  THE  ACRE  OF  THE  UNDYINGc^^R, 


WRITTEN  BY  ^ILLIAM  ggORRIS  • 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

Martha  Beckwith 


d 


/ 


^  ^^^e-^^^^^fe^^^^^^ 


J- 


/ 


THE  STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN, 
OR   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTER- 
ING PLAIN  WHICH  HAS  BEEN 
ALSO  CALLED  THE  LAND  OF 
LIVING  MEN  OR  THE  ACRE  OF 
THE  UNDYING  WRITTEN 
BY   WILLIAM  MORRIS 


^ 


PUBLISHED   BY   ROBERTS    BROTHERS, 

AT  THEIR   HOUSE,   3    SOMERSET 

STREET,  BOSTON,  1892. 


SEnibcrsttg  ^rrss 
John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge,  U.S.A. 


»  T 


Lib. 


GIFT 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  Page 

I.    Of  those  Three  who  came  to  the  House 

OF  the  Raven 7 

II.    Evil  Tidings  come  to  hand  at  Cleveland      ii 

III.  The  Warriors   of  the   Raven  search  the 

Seas 17 

IV.  Now  Hallblithe  taketh  the  Sea    ....      20 
V.    They  come  unto  the  Isle  of  Ransom      .     .      24 

VI.    Of   a   Dwelling  of   Man   on   the  Isle   of 

Ransom 39 

VII.    A  Feast  in  the  Isle  of  Ransom 50 

VIII.    Hallblithe  taketh  Ship  again  away  from 

the  Isle  of  Ransom 66 

IX.    They  come  to  the  Land  of  the  Glittering 

Plain 71 

X.    They    hold    converse   with   Folk    of   the 

Glittering  Plain 83 

XI.    The  Sea-eagle  reneweth  his  Life  ....      90 
XII.    They  look  on  the  King  of  the  Glittering 

Plain      97 

XIII.  Hallblithe    beholdeth   the   Woman   who 

LOVETH  him 105 

XIV.  Hallblithe    has    speech    with    the    King 

again "3 


699 


VI  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  Page 

XV.    Yet  Hallblithe  speaketh  with  the  King  122 
XVI.    Those  Three  go  their  ways  to  the  edge 

OF  the  Glittering  Plain 128 

XVII.    Hallblithe  amongst  the  Mountains  .    .    .  136 

XVIII.    Hallblithe  dwelleth  in  the  Wood  alone  151 

XIX.    Hallblithe  builds  him  a  Skiff 160 

XX.    So  NOW  saileth  Hallblithe  away  from  the 

Glittering  Plain 171 

XXI.    Of  the    Fight  of  the    Champions   in   the 

Hall  of  the  Ra yagers 187 

XXII.    They   go    from   the   Isle   of   Ransom   and 

come  to  Cleveland  by  the  Sea     .    .    .  209 


THE 

STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN ; 

OR, 

THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OF  THOSE  THREE  WHO  CAME  TO  THE  HOUSE 
OF  THE  RAVEN. 

TT  has  been  told  that  there  was  once  a  young 
man  of  free  kindred  and  whose  name  was 
Hallblithe:  he  was  fair,  strong,  and  not  untried 
in  battle;  he  was  of  the  House  of  the  Raven  of 
old  time. 

This  man  loved  an  exceeding  fair  damsel 
called  the  Hostage,  who  was  of  the  House  of 
the  Rose,  wherein  it  was  right  and  due  that  the 
men  of  the  Raven  should  wed. 

She  loved  him  no  less,  and  no  man  of  the 
kindred  gainsaid  their  love,  and  they  were  to 
be  wedded  on  Midsummer   Night. 

But  one  day  of  early  spring,  when  the  days 
were  yet  short  and  the  nights  long,  Hallblithe 


8        THE  STORY  OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

sat  before  the  porch  of  the  house  smoothing  an 
ash  stave  for  his  spear,  and  he  heard  the  sound 
of  horse-hoofs  drawing  nigh,  and  he  looked  up 
and  saw  folk  riding  toward  the  house,  and  so 
presently  they  rode  through  the  garth  gate ;  and 
there  was  no  man  but  he  about  the  house,  so  he 
rose  up  and  went  to  meet  them,  and  he  saw  that 
they  were  but  three  in  company :  they  had  weap- 
ons with  them,  and  their  horses  were  of  the 
best;  but  they  were  no  fellowship  for  a  man  to 
be  afraid  of ;  for  two  of  them  were  old  and  feeble, 
and  the  third  was  dark  and  sad,  and  drooping  of 
aspect :  it  seemed  as  if  they  had  ridden  far  and 
fast,  for  their  spurs  were  bloody  and  their  horses 
all  a-sweat. 

Hallblithe  hailed  them  kindly  and  said:  "Ye 
are  wayworn,  and  maybe  ye  have  to  ride  further; 
so  light  down  and  come  into  the  house,  and  take 
bite  and  sup,  and  hay  and  corn  also  for  your 
horses;  and  then  if  ye  needs  must  ride  on  your 
way,  depart  when  ye  are  rested;  or  else  if  ye 
may,  then  abide  here  night-long,  and  go  your 
ways  to-morrow,  and  meantime  that  which  is 
ours  shall  be  yours,  and  all  shall  be  free  to 
you. " 

Then  spake  the  oldest  of  the  elders  in  a  high 
piping  voice  and  said:  "Young  man,  we  thank 
thee;  but  though  the  days  of  the  springtide  are 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  9 

waxing,  the  hours  of  our  lives  are  waning;  nor 
may  we  bide  unless  thou  canst  truly  tell  us 
that  this  is  the  Land  of  the  Glittering  Plain: 
and  if  that  be  so,  then  delay  not,  lead  us  to  thy 
lord,   and  perhaps  he  will  make  us  content." 

Spake  he  who  was  somewhat  less  stricken  in 
years  than  the  first :  "  Thanks  have  thou !  but 
we  need  something  more  than  meat  and  drink, 
to  wit  the  Land  of  Living  Men.  And  Oh !  but 
the  time  presses." 

Spake  the  sad  and  sorry  carle :  "  We  seek  the 
Land  where  the  days  are  many:  so  many  that 
he  who  hath 'forgotten  how  to  laugh,  may  learn 
the  craft  again,  and  forget  the  days  of  Sorrow." 
Then  they  all  three  cried  aloud  and  said : 
"Is  this  the  Land.?  Is  this  the  Land?" 
But  Hallblithe  wondered,  and  he  laughed  and 
said :  "  Wayfarers,  look  under  the  sun  down  the 
plain  which  lieth  betwixt  the  mountains  and  the 
sea,  and  ye  shall  behold  the  meadows  all  gleam- 
ing with  the  spring  lilies ;  yet  do  we  not  call 
this  the  Glittering  Plain,  but  Cleveland  by  the 
Sea.  Here  men  die  when  their  hour  comes, 
nor  know  I  if  the  days  of  their  life  be  long 
enough  for  the  forgetting  of  sorrow;  for  I  am 
young  and  not  yet  a  yoke-fellow  of  sorrow;  but 
this  I  know,  that  they  are  long  enough  for  the 
doing  of  deeds  that  shall  not  die.      And  as  for 


10      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Lord,  I  know  not  this  word,  for  here  dwell  we, 
the  sons  of  the  Raven,  in  good  fellowship,  with 
our  wives  that  we  have  wedded,  and  our  mothers 
who  have  borne  us,  and  our  sisters  who  serve 
us.  Again  I  bid  you  light  down  off  your  horses, 
and  eat  and  drink,  and  be  merry;  and  depart 
when  ye  will,  to  seek  what  land  ye  will." 

They  scarce  looked  on  him,  but  cried  out 
together  mournfully : 

"This  is  not  the  Land!  This  is  not  the 
Land !  " 

No  more  than  that  they  said,  but  turned  about 
their  horses  and  rode  out  through  the  garth  gate, 
and  went  clattering  up  the  road  that  led  to  the 
pass  of  the  mountains.  But  Hallblithe  bark- 
ened wondering,  till  the  sound  of  their  horse- 
hoofs  died  away,  and  then  turned  back  to  his 
work :  and  it  was  then  two  hours  after  high-noon. 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  II 


CHAPTER   II. 

EVIL   TIDINGS   COME  TO   HAND   AT   CLEVELAND. 

NOT  long  had  he  worked  ere  he  heard  the 
sound  of  horse-hoofs  once  more,  and  he 
looked  not  up,  but  said  to  himself,  "  It  is  but 
the  lads  bringing  back  the  teams  from  the  acres, 
and  riding  fast  and  driving  hard  for  joy  of  heart 
and  in  wantonness  of  youth." 

But  the  sound  grew  nearer  and  he  looked  up 
and  saw  over  the  turf  wall  of  the  garth  the 
flutter  of  white  raiment ;  and  he  said : 

"  Nay,  it  is  the  maidens  coming  back  from  the 
seashore  and  the  gathering  of  wrack." 

So  he  set  himself  the  harder  to  his  work,  and 
laughed,  all  alone  as  he  was,  and  said :  "  She  is 
with  them :  now  I  will  not  look  up  again  till 
they  have  ridden  into  the  garth,  and  she  has 
come  from  among  them,  and  leapt  off  her  horse, 
and  cast  her  arms  about  my  neck  as  her  wont 
is;  and  it  will  rejoice  her  then  to  mock  me  with 
hard  words  and  kind  voice  and  longing  heart; 
and  I  shall  long  for  her  and  kiss  her,  and  sweet 


12      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

shall  the  coming  days  seem  to  us :  and  the  daugh- 
ters of  our  folk  shall  look  on  and  be  kind  and 
blithe  with  us." 

Therewith  rode  the  maidens  into  the  garth, 
but  he  heard  no  sound  of  laughter  or  merri- 
ment amongst  them,  which  was  contrary  to  their 
wont;  and  his  heart  fell,  and  it  was  as  if  instead 
of  the  maidens'  laughter  the  voices  of  those 
wayfarers  came  back  upon  the  wind  crying  out, 
"Is  this  the  Land?     Is  this  the  Land  ?" 

Then  he  looked  up  hastily,  and  saw  the  maid- 
ens drawing  near,  ten  of  the  House  of  the  Raven, 
and  three  of  the  House  of  the  Rose;  and  he  be- 
held them  that  their  faces  were  pale  and  woe- 
begone, and  their  raiment  rent,  and  there  was 
no  joy  in  them.  Hallblithe  stood  aghast  while 
one  who  had  gotten  off  her  horse  (and  she  was 
the  daughter  of  his  own  mother)  ran  past  him 
into  the  hall,  looking  not  at  him,  as  if  she  durst 
not :  and  another  rode  off  swiftly  to  the  horse- 
stalls.  But  the  others,  leaving  their  horses, 
drew  round  about  him,  and  for  a  while  none 
durst  utter  a  word ;  and  he  stood  gazing  at  them, 
with  the  spoke-shave  in  his  hand,  he  also  silent; 
for  he  saw  that  the  Hostage  was  not  with  them, 
and  he  knew  that  now  he  was  the  yokefellow  of 
sorrow. 

At  last  he  spoke  gently  and  in  a  kind  voice. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 3 

and  said:  "Tell  me,  sisters,  what  evil  hath  be- 
fallen us,  even  if  it  be  the  death  of  a  dear  friend, 
and  the  thing  that  may  not  be  amended." 

Then  spoke  a  fair  woman  of  the  Rose,  whose 
name  was  Brightling,  and  said:  "  Hallblithe,  it 
is  not  of  death  that  we  have  to  tell,  but  of  sun- 
dering, which  may  yet  be  amended.  We  were 
on  the  sand  of  the  sea  nigh  the  Ship-stead  and 
the  Rollers  of  the  Raven,  and  we  were  gather- 
ing the  wrack  and  playing  together;  and  we  saw 
a  round-ship  nigh  to  shore  lying  with  her  sheet 
slack,  and  her  sail  beating  the  mast;  but  we 
deemed  it  to  be  none  other  than  some  bark  of 
the  Fish-biters,  and  thought  no  harm  thereof, 
but  went  on  running  and  playing  amidst  the 
little  waves  that  fell  on  the  sand,  and  the  rip- 
ples that  curled  around  our  feet.  At  last  there 
came  a  small  boat  from  the  side  of  the  round- 
ship,  and  rowed  in  toward  shore,  and  still  we 
feared  not,  though  we  drew  a  little  aback  from 
the  surf  and  let  fall  our  gown-hems.  But  the 
crew  of  that  boat  beached  her  close  to  where  we 
stood,  and  came  hastily  wading  the  surf  towards 
us ;  and  we  saw  that  they  were  twelve  weaponed 
men,  great,  and  grim,  and  all  clad  in  black  rai- 
ment. Then  indeed  were  we  afraid,  and  we 
turned  about  and  fled  up  the  beach;  but  now  it 
was  too  late,  for  the  tide  was  at  more  than  half 


14      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

ebb  and  long  was  the  way  over  the  sand  to  the 
place  where  we  had  left  our  horses  tied  among 
the  tamarisk-bushes.  Nevertheless  we  ran,  and 
had  gotten  up  to  the  pebble-beach  before  they 
ran  in  amongst  us :  and  they  caught  us,  and  cast 
us  down  on  to  the  hard  stones. 

"  Then  they  made  us  sit  in  a  row  on  a  ridge  of 
the  pebbles ;  and  we  were  sore  afraid,  yet  more 
for  defilement  at  their  hands  than  for  death ;  for 
they  were  evil-looking  men  exceeding  foul  of 
favour.  Then  said  one  of  them:  'Which  of  all 
you  maidens  is  the  Hostage  of  the  House  of  the 
Rose.'' '  Then  all  we  kept  silence,  for  we  would 
not  betray  her.  But  the  evil  man  spake  again: 
'Choose  ye  then  whether  we  shall  take  one,  or  all 
of  you  across  the  waters  in  our  black  ship. '  Yet 
still  we  others  spake  not,  till  arose  thy  beloved, 
O  Hallblithe,  and  said :  '  Let  it  be  one  then,  and 
not  all;  for  I  am  the  Hostage.'  '  How  shalt  thou 
make  us  sure  thereof.'''  said  the  evil  carle.  She 
looked  on  him  proudly  and  said:  'Because  I  say 
it.'  'Wilt  thou  swear  it.'''  said  he.  'Yea,'  said 
she,  'I  swear  it  by  the  token  of  the  House 
wherein  I  shall  wed ;  by  the  wings  of  the  Fowl 
that  seeketh  the  Field  of  Slaying. '  'It  is  enough, ' 
said  the  man,  'come  thou  with  us.  And  ye 
maidens  sit  ye  there,  and  move  not  till  we  have 
made  way  on  our  ship,  unless  ye  would  feel  the 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 5 

point  of  the  arrow.  For  ye  are  within  bow-shot 
of  the  ship,  and  we  have  shot  weapons  aboard.' 
So  the  Hostage  departed  with  them,  and  she 
unweeping,  but  we  wept  sorely.  And  we  saw 
the  small  boat  come  up  to  the  side  of  the  round- 
ship,  and  the  Hostage  going  over  the  gunwale 
along  with  those  evil  men,  and  we  heard  the 
hale  and  how  of  the  mariners  as  they  drew  up 
the  anchor  and  sheeted  home;  and  then  the 
sweeps  came  out  and  the  ship  began  to  move 
over  the  sea.  And  one  of  those  evil-minded 
men  bent  his  bow  and  shot  a  shaft  at  us,  but  it 
fell  far  short  of  where  we  sat,  and  the  laugh  of 
those  runagates  came  over  the  sands  to  us.  So 
we  crept  up  the  beach  trembling,  and  then  rose 
to  our  feet  and  got  to  our  horses,  and  rode  hither 
speedily,  and  our  hearts  are  broken  for  thy 
sorrow." 

At  that  word  came  Hallblithe's  own  sister 
out  from  the  hall;  and  she  bore  weapons  with 
her,  to  wit  Hallblithe's  sword  and  shield  and 
helm  and  hauberk.  As  for  him  he  turned  back 
silently  to  his  work,  and  set  the  steel  of  the 
spear  on  the  new  ashen  shaft,  and  took  the  ham- 
mer and  smote  the  nail  in,  and  laid  the  weapon 
on  a  round  pebble  that  was  thereby,  and  clenched 
the  nail  on  the  other  side.  Then  he  looked 
about,  and  saw  that  the  other  damsel  had  brought 


l6      THE   STORY  OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

him  his  coal-black  war-horse  ready  saddled  and 
bridled;  then  he  did  on  his  armour,  and  girt  his 
sword  to  his  side  and  leapt  into  the  saddle,  and 
took  his  new-shafted  spear  in  hand  and  shook 
the  rein.  But  none  of  all  those  damsels  durst 
say  a  word  to  him  or  ask  him  whither  he  went, 
for  they  feared  his  face,  and  the  sorrow  of  his 
heart.  So  he  got  him  out  of  the  garth  and 
turned  toward  the  sea-shore,  and  they  saw  the 
glitter  of  his  spear-point  a  minute  over  the  turf- 
wall,  and  heard  the  clatter  of  his  horse-hoofs  as 
he  galloped  over  the  hard  way;  and  thus  he 
departed. 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  1 7 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  WARRIORS  OF  THE  RAVEN  SEARCH  THE  SEAS. 

THEN  the  women  bethought  them,  and  they 
spake  a  word  or  two  together,  and  then 
they  sundered  and  went  one  this  way  and  one 
that,  to  gather  together  the  warriors  of  the  Raven 
who  were  a-field,  or  on  the  way,  nigh  unto  the 
house,  that  they  might  follow  Hallblithe  down 
to  the  sea-shore  and  help  him ;  after  a  while  they 
came  back  again  by  one  and  two  and  three,  bring- 
ing with  them  the  wrathful  young  men ;  and  when 
there  was  upward  of  a  score  gathered  in  the  garth 
armed  and  horsed,  they  rode  their  ways  to  the  sea, 
being  minded  to  thrust  a  long-ship  of  the  Ravens 
out  over  the  Rollers  into  the  sea,  and  follow 
the  strong-thieves  of  the  waters  and  bring  a-back 
the  Hostage,  so  that  they  might  end  the  sorrow 
at  once,  and  establish  joy  once  more  in  the  House 
of  the  Raven  and  the  House  of  the  Rose.  But 
they  had  with  them  three  lads  of  fifteen  winters 
or  thereabouts  to  lead   their  horses   back   home 


1 8      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

again,  when  they  should  have  gone  up  on  to  the 
Horse  of  the  Brine. 

Thus  then  they  departed,  and  the  maidens 
stood  in  the  garth-gate  till  they  lost  sight  of 
them  behind  the  sandhills,  and  then  turned  back 
sorrowfully  into  the  house,  and  sat  there  talking 
low  of  their  sorrow.  And  many  a  time  they  had 
to  tell  their  tale  anew,  as  folk  came  into  the  hall 
one  after  another  from  field  and  fell.  But  the 
young  men  came  down  to  the  sea,  and  found 
Hallblithe's  black  horse  straying  about  amongst 
the  tamarisk  bushes  above  the  beach;  and  they 
looked  thence  over  the  sand,  and  saw  neither 
Hallblithe  nor  any  man:  and  they  gazed  out  sea- 
ward, and  saw  neither  ship  nor  sail  on  the  barren 
brine.  Then  they  went  down  on  to  the  sand, 
and  sundered  their  fellowship,  and  went  half  one 
way,  half  the  other,  betwixt  the  sandhills  and  the 
surf,  where  now  the  tide  was  flowing,  till  the 
nesses  of  the  east  and  the  west,  the  horns  of 
the  bay,  stayed  them.  Then  they  met  together 
again  by  the  Rollers,  when  the  sun  was  within 
an  hour  of  setting.  There  and  then  they  laid 
hand  to  that  ship  which  is  called  the  Seamew, 
and  they  ran  her  down  over  the  Rollers  into  the 
waves,  and  leapt  aboard  and  hoisted  sail,  and  ran 
out  the  oars  and  put  to  sea;  and  a  little  wind  was 
blowing  seaward  from  the  gates  of  the  mountains 
behind  them. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  1 9 

So  they  quartered  the  sea-plain,  as  the  kestrel 
doth  the  water-meadows,  till  the  night  fell  on 
them,  and  was  cloudy,  though  whiles  the  wading 
moon  shone  out;  and  they  had  seen  nothing, 
neither  sail  nor  ship,  nor  aught  else  on  the  bar- 
ren brine,  save  the  washing  of  waves  and  the 
hovering  of  sea-fowl.  So  they  lay-to  outside  the 
horns  of  the  bay,  and  awaited  the  dawning.  And 
when  morning  was  come  they  made  way  again, 
and  searched  the  sea,  and  sailed  to  the  out- 
skerries,  and  searched  them  with  care;  then  they 
sailed  into  the  main  and  fared  hither  and  thither 
and  up  and  down :  and  this  they  did  for  eight 
days,  and  in  all  that  time  they  saw  no  ship  nor 
sail,  save  three  barks  of  the  fish-biters  nigh  to 
the  Skerry  which  is   called  Mew-stone. 

So  they  fared  home  to  the  Raven  Bay,  and  laid 
their  keel  on  the  Rollers,  and  so  went  their  ways 
sadly,  home -to  the  House  of  the  Raven:  and  they 
deemed  that  for  this  time  they  could  do  no  more 
in  seeking  their  valiant  kinsman  and  his  fair 
damsel.  And  they  were  very  sorry;  for  these 
two  were  well-beloved  of  all  men.  But  since 
they  might  not  amend  it,  they  abode  in  peace, 
awaiting  what  the  change  of  days  might  bring 
them. 


20     THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 


CHAPTER   IV. 

NOW   HALLBLITHE   TAKETH   THE   SEA. 

NOW  must  it  be  told  of  Hallblithe  that  he 
rode  fiercely  down  to  the  sea  shore,  and 
from  the  top  of  the  beach  he  gazed  about  him, 
and  there  below  him  was  the  Ship-stead  and 
rollers  of  his  kindred,  whereon  lay  the  three 
longships,  the  Seamew,  and  the  Osprey  and  the 
Erne.  Heavy  and  huge  they  seemed  to  him  as 
they  lay  there,  black-sided,  icy-cold  with  the 
washing  of  the  March  waves,  their  golden  dragon- 
heads looking  seaward  wistfully.  But  first  had 
he  looked  out  into  the  offing,  and  it  was  only 
when  he  had  let  his  eyes  come  back  from  where 
the  sea  and  sky  met,  and  they  had  beheld  noth- 
ing but  the  waste  of  waters,  that  he  beheld  the 
Ship-stead  closely;  and  therewith  he  saw  where 
a  little  to  the  west  of  it  lay  a  skiff,  which  the 
low  wave  of  the  tide  lifted  and  let  fall  from  time 
to  time.  It  had  a  mast,  and  a  black  sail  hoisted 
thereon  and  flapping  with  slackened  sheet.  A 
man  sat  in  the  boat  clad  in  black  raiment,  and 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  21 

the  sun  smote  a  gleam  from  the  helm  on  his 
head.  Then  Hallblithe  leapt  off  his  horse,  and 
strode  down  the  sands  shouldering  his  spear;  and 
when  he  came  near  to  the  man  in  the  boat  he 
poised  his  spear  and  shook  it  and  cried  out : 
"Man,  art  thou  friend  or  foe?" 

Said  the  man :  "  Thou  art  a  fair  young  man : 
but  there  is  grief  in  thy  voice  along  with  wrath. 
Cast  not  till  thou  hast  heard  me,  and  mayst  deem 
whether  I  may  do  aught  to  heal  thy  grief. " 

"What  mayst  thou  do.?  "  said  Hallblithe;  "art 
thou  not  a  robber  of  the  sea,  a  harrier  of  the  folks 
that  dwell  in  peace .''  " 

The  man  laughed:  "Yea,"  said  he,  "my  craft 
is  thieving  and  carrying  off  the  daughters  of  folk, 
so  that  we  may  have  a  ransom  for  them.  Wilt 
thou  come  over  the  waters  with  me.-*" 

Hallblithe  said  wrathfully: 

"  Nay,  rather,  come  thou  ashore  here !  Thou 
seemest  a  big  man,  and  belike  shall  be  good  of 
thine  hands.  Come  and  fight  with  me;  and  then 
he  of  us  who  is  vanquished,  if  he  be  unslain, 
shall  serve  the  other  for  a  year,  and  then  shalt 
thou  do  my  business  in  the  ransoming." 

The  man  in  the  boat  laughed  again,  and  that 
so  scornfully  that  he  angered  Hallblithe  beyond 
measure:  then  he  arose  in  the  boat  and  stood 
on   his   feet   swaying    from    side   to   side   as   he 


22      THE    STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

laughed.  He  was  passing  big,  long-armed  and 
big-headed,  and  long  hair  came  from  under  his 
helm  like  the  tail  of  a  red  horse;  his  eyes  were 
gray  and  gleaming,  and  his  mouth  wide. 

In  a  while  he  stayed  his  laughter  and  said :  "  O 
Warrior  of  the  Raven,  this  were  a  simple  game 
for  thee  to  play;  though  it  is  not  far  from  my 
mind,  for  fighting  when  I  needs  must  win  is  no 
dull  work.  Look  you,  if  I  slay  or  vanquish  thee, 
then  all  is  said;  and  if  by  some  chance  stroke 
thou  slayest  me,  then  is  thine  only  helper  in  this 
matter  gone  from  thee.  Now  to  be  short,  I  bid 
thee  come  aboard  to  me  if  thou  wouldst  ever  hear 
another  word  of  thy  damsel  betrothed.  And 
moreover  this  need  not  hinder  thee  to  fight  with 
me  if  thou  hast  a  mind  to  it  thereafter;  for  we 
shall  soon  come  to  a  land  big  enough  for  two  to 
stand  on.  Or  if  thou  listest  to  fight  in  a  boat 
rocking  on  the  waves,  I  see  not  but  there  may  be 
manhood  in  that  also." 

Now  was  the  hot  wrath  somewhat  run  off  Hall- 
blithe,  nor  durst  he  lose  any  chance  to  hear  a 
word  of  his  beloved;  so  he  said:  "Big  man,  I 
will  come  aboard.  But  look  thou  to  it,  if  thou 
hast  a  mind  to  bewray  me;  for  the  sons  of  the 
Raven  die  hard." 

"Well,"  said  the  big  man,  "I  have  heard  that 
their  minstrels  are  of  many  words,  and  think  that 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  23 

they  have  tales  to  tell.  Come  aboard  and  loiter 
not."  Then  Hallblithe  waded  the  surf  and 
lightly  strode  over  the  gunwale  of  the  skiff  and 
sat  him  down.  The  big  man  thrust  out  into  the 
deep  and  haled  home  the  sheet;  but  there  was 
but  little  wind. 

Then  said  Hallblithe:  "Wilt  thou  have  me 
row,  for  I  wot  not  whitherward  to  steer .-'" 

Said  the  red  carle :  "  Maybe  thou  art  not  in  a 
hurry;  I  am  not:  do  as  thou  wilt."  So  Hall- 
blithe took  the  oars  and  rowed  mightily,  while 
the  alien  steered,  and  they  went  swiftly  and 
lightly  over  the  sea,  and  the  waves  were  little. 


24     THE  STORY    OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  V. 

THEY  COME  UNTO  THE  ISLE  OF  RANSOM. 

SO  the  sun  grew  low,  and  it  set;  the  stars  and 
the  moon  shone  a  while  and  then  it  clouded 
over.  Hallblithe  still  rowed  and  rested  not, 
though  he  was  weary;  and  the  big  man  sat  and 
steered,  and  held  his  peace.  But  when  the  night 
was  grown  old  and  it  was  not  far  from  the  dawn, 
the  alien  said:  "Youngling  of  the  Ravens,  now 
shalt   thou  sleep  and  I  will  row. " 

Hallblithe  was  exceeding  weary;  so  he  gave 
the  oars  to  the  alien  and  lay  down  in  the  stern 
and  slept.  And  in  his  sleep  he  dreamed  that  he 
was  lying  in  the  House  of  the  Raven,  and  his 
sisters  came  to  him  and  said,  "  Rise  up  now, 
Hallblithe!  wilt  thou  be  a  sluggard  on  the  day 
of  thy  wedding.-'  Come  thou  with  us  to  the 
House  of  the  Rose  that  we  may  bear  away  the 
Hostage."  Then  he  dreamed  that  they  departed, 
and  he  arose  and  clad  himself:  but  when  he 
would  have  gone  out  of  the  hall,  then  was  it  no 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  2$ 

longer  daylight,  but  moonlight,  and  he  dreamed 
that  he  had  dreamed :  nevertheless  he  would  have 
gone  abroad,  but  might  not  find  the  door;  so  he 
said  he  would  go  out  by  a  window;  but  the 
wall  was  high  and  smooth  (quite  other  than  in 
the  House  of  the  Raven,  where  were  low  win- 
dows all  along  one  aisle),  nor  was  there  any  way 
to  come  at  them.  But  he  dreamed  that  he  was 
so  abashed  thereat,  and  had  such  a  weakness  on 
him,  that  he  wept  for  pity  of  himself:  and  he 
went  to  his  bed  to  lie  down;  and  lo!  there  was 
no  bed  and  no  hall;  nought  but  a  heath,  wild 
and  wide,  and  empty  under  the  moon.  And  still 
he  wept  in  his  dream,  and  his  manhood  seemed 
departed  from  him,  and  he  heard  a  voice  crying 
out,  "  Is  this  the  Land  ?     Is  this  the  Land  ?  " 

Therewithal  he  awoke,  and  as  his  eyes  cleared 
he  beheld  the  big  man  rowing  and  the  black  sail 
flapping  against  the  mast;  for  the  wind  had  fal- 
len dead  and  they  were  faring  on  over  a  long 
smooth  swell  of  the  sea.  It  was  broad  daylight, 
but  round  about  them  was  a  thick  mist,  which 
seemed  none  the  less  as  if  the  sun  were  ready  to 
shine  through  it. 

As  Hallblithe  caught  the  red  man's  eye,  he 
smiled  and  nodded  on  him  and  said:  "Now  has 
the  time  come  for  thee  first  to  eat  and  then  to 
row.     But  tell  me  what  is  that  upon  thy  cheeks }  " 


26      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Hallblithe,  reddening  somewhat,  said:  "The 
night  dew  hath  fallen  on  me." 

Quoth  the  sea-rover,  "  It  is  no  shame  for  thee 
a  youngling  to  remember  thy  betrothed  in  thy 
sleep,  and  to  weep  because  thou  lackest  her. 
But  now  bestir  thee,  for  it  is  later  than  thou 
mayst  deem." 

Therewith  the  big  man  drew  in  the  oars  and 
came  to  the  after-part  of  the  boat,  and  drew  meat 
and  drink  out  of  a  locker  thereby;  and  they  ate 
and  drank  together,  and  Hallblithe  grew  strong 
and  somewhat  less  downcast ;  and  he  went  for- 
ward and  gat  the  oars  into  his  hands. 

Then  the  big  red  man  stood  up  and  looked  over 
his  left  shoulder  and  said :  "  Soon  shall  we  have 
a  breeze  and  bright  weather." 

Then  he  looked  into  the  midmost  of  the  sail 
and  fell  a-whistling  such  a  tune  as  the  fiddles 
play  to  dancing  men  and  maids  at  Yule-tide,  and 
his  eyes  gleamed  and  glittered  therewithal,  and 
exceeding  big  he  looked.  Then  Hallblithe  felt 
a  little  air  on  his  cheek,  and  the  mist  grew  thin- 
ner, and  the  sail  began  to  fill  with  wind  till  the 
sheet  tightened :  then,  lo !  the  mist  rising  from 
the  face  of  the  sea,  and  the  sea's  face  rippling 
gaily  under  a  bright  sun.  Then  the  wind  in- 
creased, and  the  wall  of  mist  departed  and  a  few 
light    clouds   sped   over   the   sky,    and   the    sail 


OR,  THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  2/ 

swelled  and  the  boat  heeled  over,  and  the  seas 
fell  white  from  the  prow,  and  they  sped  fast  over 
the  face  of  the  waters. 

Then  laughed  the  red-haired  man,  and  said : 
"  O  croaker  on  the  dead  branch,  now  is  the  wind 
such  that  no  rowing  of  thine  may  catch  up  with 
it :  so  in  with  the  oars  now,  and  turn  about,  and 
thou  shalt  see  whitherward  we  are  going." 

Then  Hallblithe  turned  about  on  the  thwart 
and  looked  across  the  sea,  and  lo !  before  them 
the  high  cliffs  and  crags  and  mountains  of  a  new 
land  which  seemed  to  be  an  isle,  and  they  were 
deep  blue  under  the  sun,  which  now  shone  aloft 
in  the  mid  heaven.  He  said  nought  at  all,  but 
sat  looking  and  wondering  what  land  it  might 
be ;  but  the  big  man  said :  "  O  tomb  of  warriors, 
is  it  not  as  if  the  blueness  of  the  deep  sea  had 
heaved  itself  up  aloft,  and  turned  from  coloured 
air  into  rock  and  stone,  so  wondrous  blue  it  is.^ 
But  that  is  because  those  crags  and  mountains 
are  so  far  away,  and  as  we  draw  nigher  to  them, 
thou  shalt  see  them  as  they  verily  are,  that  they 
are  coal-black;  and  yonder  land  is  an  isle,  and 
is  called  the  Isle  of  Ransom.  Therein  shall  be 
the  market  for  thee  where  thou  mayst  cheapen 
thy  betrothed.  There  mayst  thou  take  her  by 
the  hand  and  lead  her  away  thence,  when  thou 
hast  dealt  with  the  chanman  of  maidens  and  hast 


28      THE    STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

pledged  thee  by  the  fowl  of  battle,  and  the  edge 
of  the  fallow  blade  to  pay  that  which  he  will  have 
of  thee." 

As  the  big  man  spoke  there  was  a  mocking  in 
his  voice  and  his  face  and  in  his  whole  huge 
body,  which  made  the  sword  of  Hallblithe  un- 
easy in  his  scabbard ;  but  he  refrained  his  wrath, 
and  said :  "  Big  man,  the  longer  I  look,  the  less 
I  can  think  how  we  are  to  come  up  on  to  yonder 
island;  for  I  can  see  nought  but  a  huge  cliff,  and 
great  mountains  rising  beyond  it." 

"Thou  shalt  the  more  wonder,"  said  the  alien, 
"the  nigher  thou  drawest  thereto;  for  it  is  not 
because  we  are  far  away  that  thou  canst  see  no 
beach  or  strand,  or  sloping  of  the  land  seaward, 
but  because  there  is  nought  of  all  these  things. 
Yet  fear  not!  am  I  not  with  thee.-'  thou  shalt 
come  ashore  on  the  Isle  of  Ransom." 

Then  Hallblithe  held  his  peace,  and  the  other 
spake  not  for  a  while,  but  gave  a  short  laugh 
once  or  twice;  and  said  at  last  in  a  big  voice, 
"  Little  Carrion-biter,  why  dost  thou  not  ask  me 
of  my  name.''  " 

Now  Hallblithe  was  a  tall  man  and  a  fell 
fighter;  but  he  said:  "Because  I  was  thinking 
of  other  things  and  not  of  thee." 

"Well,"  said  the  big  man,  in  a  voice  still 
louder,  "When  I  am  at  home  men  call  me  the 
Puny  Fox." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  29 

Then  Hallblithe  said:  "Art  thou  a  Fox?  It 
may  well  be  that  thou  shalt  beguile  me  as  such 
beasts  will;  but  look  to  it,  that  if  thou  dost  I 
shall  know  how  to  avenge  me." 

Then  rose  up  the  big  man  from  the  helm,  and 
straddled  wide  in  the  boat,  and  cried  out  in  a 
great  roaring  voice :  "  Crag-nester,  I  am  one  of 
seven  brethren,  and  the  smallest  and  weakest  of 
them.     Art  thou  not  afraid  ?  " 

"No,"  said  Hallblithe,  "for  the  six  others  are 
not  here.     Wilt  thou  fight  here  in  boat,  O  Fox.!* " 

"Nay,"  said  Fox,  "rather  we  will  drink  a  cup 
of  wine  together." 

So  he  opened  the  locker  again  and  drew  out 
thence  a  great  horn  of  some  huge  neat  of  the 
outlands,  which  was  girthed  and  stopped  with 
silver,  and  also  a  golden  cup,  and  he  filled  the 
cup  from  the  horn  and  gave  it  into  Hallblithe's 
hand  and  said :  "  Drink,  O  black-fledged  nest- 
ling! But  call  a  health  over  the  cup  if  thou 
wilt."  So  Hallblithe  raised  the  cup  aloft  and 
cried:  "Health  to  the  House  of  the  Raven  and 
to  them  that  love  it !  an  ill  day  to  its  foemen ! " 
Then  he  set  his  lips  to  the  cup  and  drank;  and 
that  wine  seemed  to  him  better  and  stronger  than 
any  he  had  ever  tasted.  But  when  he  had  given 
the  cup  back  again  to  Fox,  that  red  one  filled  it 
again,   and  cried  over  it,  "The  Treasure  of  the 


30      THE    STORY   OF  THE   GLI'ITERING   PLAIN; 

Sea!  and  the  King  that  dieth  not!"  Then  he 
drank,  and  filled  again  for  Hallblithe,  and  steered 
with  his  knees  meanwhile;  and  thus  they  drank 
three  cups  each,  and  Fox  smiled  and  was  peace- 
ful and  said  but  little,  but  Hallblithe  sat  won- 
dering how  the  world  was  changed  for  him  since 
yesterday. 

But  now  was  the  sky  blown  all  clear  of  clouds 
and  the  wind  piped  shrill  behind  them,  and  the 
great  waves  rose  and  fell  about  them,  and  the 
sun  glittered  on  them  in  many  colours.  Fast 
flew  the  boat  before  the  wind  as  though  it  would 
never  stop,  and  the  day  was  waning,  and  the 
wind  still  rising;  and  now  the  Isle  of  Ransom 
uphove  huge  before  them,  and  coal-black,  and 
no  beach  and  no  haven  was  to  be  seen  therein; 
and  still  they  ran  before  the  wind  towards  that 
black  cliff-wall,  against  which  the  sea  washed 
for  ever,  and  no  keel  ever  built  by  man  might 
live  for  one  moment  'twixt  the  surf  and  the  cliff 
of  that  grim  land.  The  sun  grew  low,  and  sank 
red  under  the  sea,  and  that  \vorld  of  stone  swal- 
lowed up  half  the  heavens  before  them,  for  they 
were  now  come  very  nigh  thereto;  nor  could 
Hallblithe  see  aught  for  it,  but  that  they  must' 
be  dashed  against  the  cliff  and  perish  in  a 
moment  of  time. 

Still   the   boat    flew   on;    but   now   when    the 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  3 1 

twilight  was  come,  and  they  had  just  opened 
up  a  long  reach  of  the  cliff  that  lay  beyond  a 
high  ness,  Hallblithe  thought  he  saw  down  by 
the  edge  of  the  sea  something  darker  than  the 
face  of  the  rock-wall,  and  he  deemed  it  was  a 
cave :  they  came  a  little  nearer  and  he  saw  it  was 
a  great  cave  high  enough  to  let  a  round-ship  go 
in  with  all  her  sails  set. 

"Son  of  the  Raven,"  quoth  Fox,  "hearken,  for 
thy  heart  is  not  little.  Yonder  is  the  gate  into 
the  Isle  of  Ransom,  and  if  thou  wilt,  thou  mayst 
go  through  it.  Yet  it  may  be  that  if  thou  goest 
ashore  on  to  the  Isle  something  grievous  shall 
befall  thee,  a  trouble  more  than  thou  canst  bear : 
a  shame  it  may  be.  Now  there  are  two  choices 
for  thee :  either  to  go  up  on  to  the  Isle  and  face 
all ;  or  to  die  here  by  my  hand  having  done  noth- 
ing unmanly  or  shameful :  What  sayest  thou  .-•  " 

"  Thou  art  of  many  words  when  time  so  presses. 
Fox,"  said  Hallblithe.  "Why  should  I  not  choose 
to  go  up  on  the  Island  to  deliver  my  trothplight 
maiden.''  For  the  rest,  slay  me  if  thou  canst,  if 
we  come  alive  out  of  this  cauldron  of  waters." 

Said  the  big  red  man :  "  Look  on  then,  and 
note  Fox  how  he  steereth,  as  it  were  through  a 
needle's  eye." 

Now  were  they  underneath  the  black  shadow  of 
the  black  cliff  and  amidst  the  twilight  the  surf 


32      THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

was  tossed  about  like  white  fire.  In  the  lower 
heavens  the  stars  were  beginning  to  twinkle  and 
the  moon  was  bright  and  yellow,  and  aloft  all 
was  peaceful,  for  no  cloud  sullied  the  sky.  •  One 
moment  Hallblithe  saw  all  this  hanging  above 
the  turmoil  of  thundering  water  and  dripping 
rock  and  the  next  he  was  in  the  darkness  of  the 
cave,  the  roaring  wind  and  the  waves  still  mak- 
ing thunder  about  him,  though  of  a  different 
voice  from  the  harsh  hubbub  without.  Then  he 
heard  Fox  say :  "  Sit  down  now  and  take  the 
oars,  for  presently  shall  we  be  at  home  at  the 
landing  place." 

So  Hallblithe  took  the  oars  and  rowed,  and  as 
they  went  up  the  cave  the  sea  fell,  and  the  wind 
died  out  into  the  aimless  gustiness  of  hollow 
places;  and  for  a  little  while  was  all  as  dark  as 
dark  might  be.  Then  Hallblithe  saw  that  the 
darkness  grew  a  little  greyer,  and  he  looked  over 
his  shoulder  and  saw  a  star  of  light  before  the 
bows  of  the  boat,  and  Fox  cried  out :  "  Yea,  it 
is  like  day;  bright  will  the  moon  be  for  such  as 
needs  must  be  wayfaring  to-night !  Cease  row- 
ing, O  Son  of  the  coal-blue  fowl,  for  there  is 
way  enough  on  her." 

Then  Hallblithe  lay  on  his  oars,  and  in  a 
minute  the  bows  smote  the  land;  then  he  turned 
about  and  saw  a  steep  stair  of  stone,  and  up  the 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  33 

sloping  shaft  thereof  the  moonlit  sky  and  the 
bright  stars.  Then  Fox  arose  and  came  forward 
and  leapt  out  of  the  boat  and  moored  her  to  a 
big  stone:  then  he  leapt  back  again  and  said: 
"Bear  a  hand  with  the  victuals;  we  must  bring 
them  out  of  the  boat  unless  thou  wilt  sleep  sup- 
perless,  as  I  will  not.  For  to-night  must  we  be 
guests  to  ourselves,  since  it  is  far  to  the  dwelling 
of  my  people,  and  the  old  man  is  said  to  be  a 
skin-changer,  a  flit-by-night.  And  as  to  this  cave, 
it  is  deemed  to  be  nowise  safe  to  sleep  therein, 
unless  the  sleeper  have  a  double  share  of  luck. 
And  thy  luck,  me-seemeth,  O  Son  of  the  Raven, 
is  as  now  somewhat  less  than  a  single  share.  So 
to-night  we  shall  sleep  under  the  naked  heaven." 

Hallblithe  yea-said  this,  and  they  took  the  meat 
and  drink,  such  as  they  needed,  from  out  the  boat, 
and  climbed  the  steep  stair  no  little  way,  and  so 
came  out  on  to  a  plain  place,  which  seemed  to 
Hallblithe  bare  and  waste  so  far  as  he  saw  it  by 
the  moonlight;  for  the  twilight  was  gone  now, 
and  nought  was  left  of  the  light  of  day  save  a 
glimmer  in  the  west. 

This  Hallblithe  deemed  wonderful,  that  no  less 

out  on  the  open  heath  and  brow  of  the  land  than 

in  the  shut-in  cave,  all  that  tumult  of  the  wind 

had  fallen,    and   the  cloudless   night   was    calm, 

and  with  a  little  light  air  blowing  from  the  south 

and  the  landward. 

3 


34     THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Therewithal  was  Fox  done  with  his  loud-voiced 
braggart  mood,  and  spoke  gently  and  peaceably- 
like  to  a  wayfarer,  who  hath  business  of  his 
to  look  to  as  other  men.  Now  he  pointed  to 
certain  rocks  or  low  crags  that  a  little  way  off 
rose  like  a  reef  out  of  the  treeless  plain;  then 
said  he:  "Shipmate,  underneath  yonder  rocks  is 
our  resting-place  for  to-night;  and  I  pray  thee 
not  to  deem  me  churlish  that  I  give  thee  no 
better  harbour.  But  I  have  a  charge  over  thee 
to  bring  thee  safe  thus  far  on  thy  quest;  and 
thou  wouldst  find  it  hard  to  live  amongst  such 
housemates  as  thou  wouldst  find  up  yonder 
amongst  our  folk  to-night.  But  to-morrow  shalt 
thou  come  to  speech  with  him  who  will  deal 
with  thee  concerning  the  ransom." 

"It  is  enough,"  said  Hallblithe,  "and  I  thank 
thee  for  thy  leading:  and  as  for  thy  rough  and 
uncomely  words  which  thou  hast  given  me,  I 
pardon  thee  for  them :  for  I  am  none  the  worse 
of  them :  forsooth,  if  I  had  been,  my  sword  would 
have  had  a  voice  in  the  matter." 

"I  am  well  content  as  it  is,  Son  of  the  Raven," 
quoth  Fox;  "I  have  done  my  bidding  and  all  is 
well." 

"Tell  me  then  who  it  is  hath  bidden  thee 
bring  me  hither.^" 

"I  may  not  tell  thee,"  said  Fox;  "thou  art 
here,   be  content,   as  I  am." 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  35 

And  he  spake  no  more  till  they  had  come  to  the 
reef  aforesaid,  which  was  some  two  furlongs  from 
the  place  where  they  had  come  from  out  of  the 
cave.  There  then  they  set  forth  their  supper 
on  the  stones,  and  ate  what  they  would,  and 
drank  of  that  good  strong  wine  while  the  horn 
bare  out.  And  now  was  Fox  of  few  words,  and 
when  Hallblithe  asked  him  concerning  that  land, 
he  had  little  to  say.  And  at  last  when  Hall- 
blithe  asked  him  of  that  so  perilous  house  and 
those  who  manned  it,  he  said  to  him: 

"Son  of  the  Raven,  it  avails  not  asking  of 
these  matters;  for  if  I  tell  thee  aught  concerning 
them  I  shall  tell  thee  lies.  Once  again  let  it  be 
enough  for  thee  that  thou  hast  passed  over  the  sea 
safely  on  thy  quest;  and  a  more  perilous  sea  it 
is  forsooth  than  thou  deemest.  But  now  let  us 
have  an  end  of  vain  words,  and  make  our  bed 
amidst  these  stones  as  best  we  may;  for  we 
should  be  stirring  betimes  in  the  morning." 
Hallblithe  said  little  in  answer,  and  they  ar- 
rayed their  sleeping  places  cunningly,  as  the 
hare  doth  her  form,  and  like  men  well  used  to 
lying  abroad. 

Hallblithe  was  very  weary  and  he  soon  fell 
asleep ;  and  as  he  lay  there,  he  dreamed  a  dream, 
or  maybe  saw  a  vision;  whether  he  were  asleep 
when  he  saw  it,  or  betv/een   sleeping  and  wak- 


36      THE   STORY   OF  THE    GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

ing,  I  know  not.  But  this  was  his  dream  or  his 
vision;  that  the  Hostage  was  standing  over 
him,  and  she  as  he  had  seen  her  but  yesterday, 
bright-haired  and  ruddy-cheeked  and  white- 
skinned,  kind  of  hand  and  soft  of  voice,  and 
she  said  to  him :  "  Hallblithe,  look  on  me  and 
hearken,  for  I  have  a  message  for  thee."  And 
he  looked  and  longed  for  her,  and  his  soul  was 
ravished  by  the  sweetness  of  his  longing,  and 
he  would  have  leapt  up  and  cast  his  arms  about 
her,  but  sleep  and  the  dream  bound  him,  and 
he  might  not.  Then  the  image  smiled  on  him 
and  said :  "  Nay,  my  love,  lie  still,  for  thou 
mayst  not  touch  me:  here  is  but  the  image  of 
the  body  which  thou  desirest.  Hearken  then. 
I  am  in  evil  plight,  in  the  hands  of  strong- 
thieves  of  the  sea,  nor  know  I  what  they  will  do 
with  me,  and  I  have  no  will  to  be  shamed;  to 
be  sold  for  a  price  from  one  hand  to  another, 
yet  to  be  bedded  without  a  price,  and  to  lie 
beside  some  foeman  of  our  folk,  and  he  to  cast 
his  arms  about  me,  will  I,  will  I  not :  this  is  a 
hard  case.  Therefore  to-morrow  morning  at 
daybreak  while  men  sleep,  I  think  to  steal  forth 
to  the  gunwale  of  the  black  ship  and  give  my- 
self to  the  gods,  that  they  and  not  these  runa- 
gates may  be  masters  of  my  life  and  my  soul, 
and  may  do  with  me  as  they  will :  for  indeed 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING  MEN.  37 

they  know  that  I  may  not  bear  the  strange  kin- 
less  house,  and  the  love  and  caressing  of  the 
alien  house-master,  and  the  mocking  and  stripes 
of  the  alien  house-mistress.  Therefore  let  the 
Hoary  One  of  the  sea  take  me  and  look  to  my 
matters,  and  carry  me  to  life  or  death,  which-so 
he  will.  Thin  now  grows  the  night,  but  lie 
still  a  little  yet,  while  I  speak  another  word. 

"  Maybe  we  shall  meet  alive  again,  and  maybe 
not :  and  if  not,  though  we  have  never  yet  lain 
in  one  bed  together,  yet  I  would  have  thee  re- 
member me :  yet  not  so  that  my  image  shall 
come  between  thee  and  thy  speech-friend  and 
bed-fellow  of  the  kindred,  that  shall  lie  where 
I  was  to  have  lain.  Yet  again,  if  I  live  and 
thou  livest,  I  have  been  told  and  have  heard 
that  by  one  way  or  other  I  am  like  to  come 
to  the  Glittering  Plain,  and  the  Land  of  Living 
Men.  O  my  beloved,  if  by  any  way  thou  might- 
est  come  thither  also,  and  we  might  meet  there, 
and  we  two  alive,  how  good  it  were !  Seek  that 
land  then,  beloved !  seek  it,  whether  or  no  we 
once  more  behold  the  House  of  the  Rose,  or 
tread  the  floor  of  the  Raven  dwelling.  And 
now  must  even  this  image  of  me  sunder  from 
thee.     Farewell !  " 

Therewith  was  the  dream  done  and  the  vision 
departed;  and  Hallblithe  sat  up  full  of  anguish 


38       THE  STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

and  longing;  and  he  looked  about  him  over  the 
dreary  land,  and  it  was  somewhat  light  and  the 
sky  was  grown  grey  and  cloudy,  and  he  deemed 
that  the  dawn  was  come.  So  he  leapt  to  his 
feet  and  stooped  down  over  Fox,  and  took  him 
by  the  shoulder,  and  shook  him  and  said  :  "  Faring- 
fellow,  awake!  the  dawn  is  come,  and  we  have 
much  to  do." 

Fox  sat  up  and  growled  like  a  dog,  and  rubbed 
his  eyes  and  looked  about  him  and  said:  "Thou 
hast  waked  me  for  nought :  it  is  the  false  dawn 
of  the  moon  that  shineth  now  behind  the  clouds 
and  casteth  no  shadow;  it  is  but  an  hour  after 
midnight.  Go  to  sleep  again,  and  let  me  be, 
else  will  I  not  be  a  guide  to  thee  when  the  day 
comes."  And  he  lay  down  and  was  asleep  at 
once.  Then  Hallblithe  w^ent  and  lay  down  again 
full  of  sorrow:  Yet  so  weary  was  he  that  he 
presently  fell  asleep,  and  dreamed  no  more. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  39 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OF  A  DWELLING  OF  MAN  ON  THE  ISLE  OF  RANSOM. 

WHEN  he  awoke  again  the  sun  shone  on 
him,  and  the  morning  was  calm  and 
windless.  He  sat  up  and  looked  about  him,  but 
could  see  no  signs  of  Fox  save  the  lair  wherein 
he  had  lain.  So  he  arose  to  his  feet  and  sought 
for  him  about  the  crannies  of  the  rocks,  and 
found  him  not;  and  he  shouted  for  him,  and  had 
no  answer.  Then  he  said,  "  Belike  he  has  gone 
down  to  the  boat  to  put  a  thing  in,  or  take  a 
thing  out."  So  he  went  his  ways  to  the  stair 
down  into  the  water-cave,  and  he  called  on  Fox 
from  the  top  of  the  stair,  and  had  no  answer. 

So  he  went  down  that  long  stair  with  a  mis- 
giving in  his  heart,  and  when  he  came  to  the 
last  step  there  was  neither  man  nor  boat,  nor 
aught  else  save  the  water  and  the  living  rock. 
Then  was  he  exceeding  wroth,  for  he  knew  that 
he  had  been  beguiled,  and  he  was  in  an  evil  case, 
left  alone  on  an  Isle  that  he  knew  not,  a  waste 


40     THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

and  desolate  land,   where   it    seemed   most    like 
he  should  die  of  famine. 

He  wasted  no  breath  or  might  now  in  crying 
out  for  Fox,  or  seeking  him;  for  he  said  to  him- 
self: "I  might  well  have  known  that  he  was 
false  and  a  liar,  whereas  he  could  scarce  refrain 
his  joy  at  my  folly  and  his  guile.  Now  is  it 
for  me  to  strive  for  life  against  death.  Then 
he  turned  and  went  slowly  up  the  stair,  and 
came  out  on  to  the  open  face  of  that  Isle,  and 
he  saw  that  it  was  waste  indeed,  and  dreadful; 
a  wilderness  of  black  sand  and  stones  and  ice- 
borne  rocks,  with  here  and  there  a  little  grass 
growing  in  the  hollows,  and  here  and  there  a 
dreary  mire  where  the  white-tufted  rushes  shook 
in  the  wind,  and  here  and  there  stretches  of 
moss  blended  with  red-blossomed  sengreen;  and 
otherwhere  nought  but  the  wind-bitten  creeping 
willow  clinging  to  the  black  sand,  with  a  white 
bleached  stick  and  a  leaf  or  two,  and  again  a 
stick  and  a  leaf.  In  the  offing  looking  landward 
were  great  mountains,  some  very  great  and  snow- 
capped, some  bare  to  the  tops;  and  all  that  was 
far  away,  save  the  snow,  was  deep-blue  in  the 
sunny  morning.  But  about  him  on  the  heath 
were  scattered  rocks  like  the  reef  beneath  which 
he  had  slept  the  last  night,  and  peaks,  and  ham- 
mers, and  knolls  of  uncouth  shapes. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  4 1 

Then  he  went  to  the  edge  of  the  cliffs  and 
looked  down  on  the  sea  which  lay  wrinkled  and 
rippling  on  toward  the  shore  far  below  him, 
and  long  he  gazed  thereon  and  all  about,  but 
could  see  neither  ship  nor  sail,  nor  aught  else 
save  the  washing  of  waves  and  the  hovering  of 
sea  fowl. 

Then  he  said:  "Were  it  not  well  if  I  were 
to  seek  that  house-master  of  whom  Fox  spake? 
Might  he  not  flit  me  at  least  to  the  Land  of  the 
Glittering  Plain  ?  Woe  is  me !  now  am  I  of  that 
woful  company,  and  I  also  must  needs  cry  out 
Where  is  the  land?     Where  is  the  land?" 

Therewith  he  turned  toward  the  reef  above 
their  lair,  but  as  he  went  he  thought  and  said : 
"Nay,  but  was  not  this  Stead  a  lie  like  the  rest 
of  Fox's  tale?  and  am  I  not  alone  in  this  sea- 
girt wilderness?  Yea,  and  even  that  image  of 
my  beloved  which  I  saw  in  the  dream,  perchance 
that  also  was  a  mere  beguiling;  for  now  I  see 
that  the  Puny  Fox  was  in  all  ways  wiser  than 
is  meet  and  comely."  Yet  again  he  said:  "At 
least  I  will  seek  on,  and  find  out  whether  there 
be  another  man  dwelling  on  this  hapless  Isle, 
and  then  the  worst  of  it  will  be  battle  with  him, 
and  death  by  point  and  edge  rather  than  by  hun- 
ger; or  at  the  best  we  may  become  friends  and 
fellows  and  deliver  each  other."     Therewith  he 


42       THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

came  to  the  reef,  and  with  much  ado  climbed  to 
the  topmost  of  its  rocks  and  looked  down  thence 
landward:  and  betwixt  him  and  the  mountains, 
and  by  seeming  not  very  far  off,  he  saw  smoke 
arising:  but  no  house  he  saw,  nor  any  other 
token  of  a  dwelling.  So  he  came  down  from 
the  stone  and  turned  his  back  upon  the  sea  and 
went  toward  that  smoke  with  his  sword  in  its 
sheath,  and  his  spear  over  his  shoulder.  Rough 
and  toilsome  was  the  way:  three  little  dales  he 
crossed  amidst  the  mountain  necks,  each  one 
narrow  and  bare,  with  a  stream  of  water  amidst, 
running  seaward,  and  whether  in  dale  or  on 
ridge,  he  went  ever  amidst  sand  and  stones,  and 
the  weeds  of  the  wilderness,  and  saw  no  man,  or 
man-tended  beast. 

At  last,  after  he  had  been  four  hours  on  the 
way,  but  had  not  gone  very  far,  he  topped  a 
stony  bent,  and  from  the  brow  thereof  beheld  a 
wide  valley  grass-grown  for  the  more  part,  with 
a  river  running  through  it,  and  sheep  and  kine 
and  horses  feeding  up  and  down  it.  And  amidst 
this  dale  by  the  stream-side,  was  a  dwelling  of 
men,  a  long  hall  and  other  houses  about  it 
builded  of  stone. 

Then  was  Hallblithe  glad,  and  he  strode  down 
the  bent  speedily,  his  war-gear  clashing  upon 
him :  and  as  he  came  to  the  foot  thereof  and  on 


OR,  THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  43 

to  the  grass  of  the  dale,  he  got  amongst  the 
pasturing  horses,  and  passed  close  by  the  horse- 
herd  and  a  woman  that  was  with  him.  They 
scowled  at  him  as  he  went  by,  but  meddled  not 
with  him  in  any  way.  Although  they  were  giant- 
like of  stature  and  fierce  of  face,  they  were  not 
ill-favoured:  they  were  red-haired,  and  the  woman 
as  white  as  cream  where  the  sun  had  not  burned 
her  skin;  they  had  no  weapons  that  Hallblithe 
might  see  save  the  goad  in  the  hand  of  the  carle. 

So  Hallblithe  passed  on  and  came  to  the  big- 
gest house,  the  hall  aforesaid :  it  was  very  long, 
and  low  as  for  its  length,  not  over  shapely  of 
fashion,  a  mere  gabled  heap  of  stones.  Low 
and  strait  was  the  door  thereinto,  and  as  Hall- 
blithe entered  stooping  lowly,  and  the  fire  of 
the  steel  of  his  spear  that  he  held  before  him 
was  quenched  in  the  mirk  of  the  hall,  he  smiled 
and  said  to  himself:  "Now  if  there  were  one 
anigh  who  would  not  have  me  enter  alive,  and 
he  with  a  weapon  in  his  hand,  soon  were  all 
the  tale  told."  But  he  got  into  the  hall  un- 
smitten,  and  stood  on  the  floor  thereof,  and 
spake:  "The  sele  of  the  day  to  whomsoever  is 
herein !    Will  any  man  speak  to  the  new  comer?  " 

But  none  answered  or  gave  him  greeting;  and 
as  his  eyes  got  used  to  the  dusk  of  the  hall,  he 
looked  about  him,   and  neither  on  the  floor  or 


44     THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

the  high  seat  nor  in  any  ingle  could  he  see  a 
man ;  and  there  was  silence  there,  save  for  the 
crackling  of  the  flickering  flame  on  the  hearth 
amidmost,  and  the  running  of  the  rats  behind 
the  panelling  of  the  walls. 

On  one  side  of  the  hall  was  a  row  of  shut-beds, 
and  Hallblithe  deemed  that  there  might  be  men 
therein;  but  since  none  had  greeted  him  he  re- 
frained him  from  searching  them  for  fear  of  a 
trap,  and  he  thought,  "  I  will  abide  amidst  the 
floor,  and  if  there  be  any  that  would  deal  with 
me,  friend  or  foe,  let  him  come  hither  to  me." 

So  he  fell  to  walking  up  and  down  the  hall 
from  buttery  to  dais,  and  his  wargear  rattled 
upon  him.  At  last  as  he  walked  he  thought  he 
heard  a  small  thin  peevish  voice,  which  yet  was 
too  husky  for  the  squeak  of  a  rat.  So  he  stayed 
his  walk  and  stood  still,  and  said:  "Will  any 
man  speak  to  Hallblithe,  a  new-comer,  and  a 
sranger  in  this  Stead .-'" 

Then  that  small  voice  made  a  word  and  said: 
"Why  paceth  the  fool  up  and  down  our  hall, 
doing  nothing,  even  as  the  Ravens  flap  croaking 
about  the  crags,  abiding  the  war-mote  and  the 
clash  of  the  fallow  blades .''  " 

Said  Hallblithe,  and  his  voice  sounded  big  in 
the  hall:  "Who  calleth  Hallblithe  a  fool  and 
mocketh  at  the  sons  of  the  Raven  .^" 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  45 

Spake  the  voice :  "  Why  cometh  not  the  fool 
to  the  man  that  may  not  go  to  him?  " 

Then  Hallblithe  bent  forward  to  hearken,  and 
he  deemed  that  the  voice  came  from  one  of  the 
shut-beds,  so  he  leaned  his  spear  against  a  pillar, 
and  went  into  the  shut-bed  he  had  noted,  and 
saw  where  there  lay  along  in  it  a  man  exceeding 
old  by  seeming,  sore  wasted,  with  long  hair  as 
white  as  snow  lying  over  the  bed-clothes. 

When  the  elder  saw  Hallblithe,  he  laughed  a 
thin  cracked  laugh  as  if  in  mockery  and  said : 
"Hail  new-comer!  wilt  thou  eat?" 

"Yea,"  said  Hallblithe. 

"Go  thou  into  the  buttery  then,"  said  the  old 
carle,  "and  there  shalt  thou  find  on  the  cupboard 
cakes  and  curds  and  cheese :  eat  thy  fill,  and 
when  thou  hast  done,  look  in  the  ingle,  and  thou 
shalt  see  a  cask  of  mead  exceeding  good,  and  a 
stoup  thereby,  and  two  silver  cups ;  fill  the  stoup 
and  bring  it  hither  with  the  cups;  and  then  may 
we  talk  amidst  of  drinking,  which  is  good  for 
an  old  carle.  Hasten  thou !  or  I  shall  deem  thee 
a  double  fool  who  will  not  fare  to  fetch  his  meat, 
though  he  be  hungry." 

Then  Hallblithe  laughed,  'and  went  down  the 
hall  into  the  buttery  and  found  the  meat,  and 
ate  his  fill,  and  came  away  with  the  drink  back 
to   the    Long-hoary   man,    who    chuckled   as   he 


46     THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

came  and  said :  "  Fill  up  now  for  thee  and  for 
me,  and  call  a  health  to  me  and  wish  me  some- 
what. " 

"I  wish  thee  luck,"  said  Hallblithe,  and  drank. 
Said  the  elder:  "And  I  wish  thee  more  wits;  is 
luck  all  that  thou  mayst  wish  me.-*  What  luck 
may  an  outworn  elder  have  .■'  " 

"Well  then,"  quoth  Hallblithe,  "what  shall  I 
wish  thee.''  Wouldst  thou  have  me  wish  thee 
youth }  " 

"Yea,  certes,"  said  the  Long-hoary,  "that  and 
nought  else." 

"  Youth  then  I  wish  thee,  if  it  may  avail  thee 
aught,"  said  Hallblithe,  and  he  drank  again 
therewith. 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  the  old  carle  peevishly,  "take 
a  third  cup,  and  wish  me  youth  with  no  idle  words 
tacked  thereto." 

Said  Hallblithe  raising  the  cup:  "Herewith  I 
wish  thee  youth !  "  and  he  drank. 

"Good  is  the  wish,"  said  the  elder;  "now  ask 
thou  the  old  carle  whatso  thou  wilt." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "What  is  this  land  called.?" 

"Son,"  said  the  other,  "hast  thou  heard  it 
called  the  Isle  of  Ransom }  " 

"Yea,"  said  Hallblithe,  "but  what  wilt  thou 
call  it.?" 

"By  no  other  name,"  said  the  hoary  carle. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  47 

"  It  is  far  from  other  lands  ?  "  said  Hallblithe, 

"Yea,"  said  the  carle,  "when  the  light  winds 
blow,  and  the  ships  sail  slow." 

"  What  do  ye  who  live  here  ?  "  said  Hallblithe. 
"How  do  ye  live,  what  work  win  ye.''" 

"We  win  diverse  work,"  said  the  elder,  "but 
the  gainfullest  is  robbing  men  by  the  high  hand." 

"  Is  it  ye  who  have  stolen  from  me  the  Hostage 
of  the  Rose.?  "  said  Hallblithe. 

Said  the  Long-hoary,  "Maybe;  I  wot  not;  in 
diverse  ways  my  kinsmen  traffic,  and  they  visit 
many  lands.  Why  should  they  not  have  come  to 
Cleveland  also .-' " 

"Is  she  in  this  Isle,  thou  old  runagate.!""  said 
Hallblithe. 

"She  is  not,  thou  young  fool,"  said  the  elder. 

Then  Hallblithe  flushed  red  and  spake :  "  Know- 
est  thou  the  Puny  Fox.?  " 

"  How  should  I  not .?  "  said  the  carle,  "  since  he 
is  the  son  of  one  of  my  sons." 

"  Dost  thou  call  him  a  liar  and  a  rogue .?  "  said 
Hallblithe. 

The  elder  laughed;  "Else  were  I  a  fool,"  said 
he ;  "  there  are  few  bigger  liars  or  bigger  rogues 
than  the  Puny  Fox!  " 

"Is  he  here  in  this  Isle.?"  said  Hallblithe; 
"may  I  see  him?  " 

The  old  man  laughed  again,  and  said:  "Nay, 


48      THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

he  is  not  here,  unless  he  hath  turned  fool  since 
yesterday:  why  should  he  abide  thy  sword,  since 
he  hath  done  what  he  would  and  brought  thee 
hither?  " 

Then  he  laughed,  as  a  hen  cackles  a  long 
while,  and  then  said:  "What  more  wilt  thou  ask 
me  ?  " 

But  Hallblithe  was  very  wroth :  "  It  availeth 
nought  to  ask,"  he  said;  "and  now  I  am  in  two 
minds  whether  I  shall  slay  thee  or  not." 

"That  were  a  meet  deed  for  a  Raven,  but  not 
for  a  man,"  said  the  carle,  "and  thou  that  hast 
wished  me  luck!     Ask,  ask!" 

But  Hallblithe  was  silent  a  long  while.  Then 
the  carle  saidj^  "  Another  cup  for  the  longer  after 
youth !  " 

Hallblithe  filled,  and  gave  to  him,  and  the  old 
man  drank  and  said:  "Thou  deemest  us  all  liars 
in  the  Isle  of  Ransom  because  of  thy  beguiling 
by  the  Puny  Fox:  but  therein  thou  errest.  The 
Puny  Fox  is  our  chiefest  liar,  and  doth  for  us 
the  more  part  of  such  work  as  we  need :  therefore 
why  should  we  others  lie.     Ask,  ask!  " 

"Well  then,"  said  Hallblithe,  "why  did  the 
Puny  Fox  bewray  me,  and  at  whose  bidding.'*" 

Said  the  elder:  "I  know,  but  I  will  not  tell 
thee.      Is  this  a  lie.^  " 

"Nay,  I  deem  it  not,"  said  Hallblithe:  "But, 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  49 

tell  me,   is  it  verily  true  that  my  trothplight  is 
not  here,  that  I  may  ransom  her?" 

Said  the  Long-hoary :  "  I  swear  it  by  the  Treas- 
ure of  the  Sea,  that  she  is  not  here :  the  tale  was 
but  a  lie  of  the  Puny  Fox." 


50      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  FEAST  IN  THE   ISLE   OF   RANSOM. 

HALLBLITHE  pondered  his  answer  awhile 
with  downcast  eyes  and  said  at  last : 
"Have  ye  a  mind  to  ransom  me,  now  that  I 
have  walked  into  the  trap  .-•  " 

"There  is  no  need  to  talk  of  ransom,"  said 
the  elder;  "thou  mayst  go  out  of  this  house 
when  thou  wilt,  nor  will  any  meddle  with  thee 
if  thou  strayest  about  the  Isle,  when  I  have  set 
a  mark  on  thee  and  given  Ihee  a  token :  nor 
wilt  thou  be  hindered  if  thou  hast  a  mind  to 
leave  the  Isle,  if  thou  canst  find  means  thereto; 
moreover  as  long  as  thou  art  in  the  Isle,  in  this 
house  mayst  thou  abide,  eating  and  drinking 
and  resting  with  us." 

"How  may  I  leave  this.^""   said  Hallblithe. 

The  elder  laughed:  "In  a  ship,"  said  he. 
"And  when,"  said  Hallblithe,  "shall  I  find  a 
ship  that  shall  carry  me?"  Said  the  old  carle, 
"Whither  wouldest  thou  my  son.?"  Hallblithe 
was    silent   a  while,    thinking   what   answer  he 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  5 1 

should  make;  then  he  said:  "I  would  go  to  the 
land  of  the  Glittering  Plain." 

"  Son,  a  ship  shall  not  be  lacking  thee  for  that 
voyage,"  said  the  elder.  "Thou  mayst  go  to- 
morrow morn.  And  I  bid  thee  abide  here  to- 
night, and  thy  cheer  shall  not  be  ill.  Yet  if 
thou  wilt  believe  my  word,  it  will  be  well  for  thee 
to  say  as  little  as  thou  mayst  to  any  man  here, 
and  that  little  as  little  proud  as  maybe :  for  our 
folk  are  short  of  temper  and  thou  knowest  there 
is  no  might  against  many.  Indeed  it  is  not 
unlike  that  they  will  not  speak  one  word  to 
thee,  and  if  that  be  so,  thou  hast  no  need  to 
open  thy  mouth  to  them.  And  now  I  will  tell 
thee  that  it  is  good  that  thou  hast  chosen  to  go 
to  the  Glittering  Plain.  For  if  thou  wert  other- 
wise minded,  I  wot  not  how  thou  wouldest  get 
thee  a  keel  to  carry  thee,  and  the  wings  have 
not  yet  begun  to  sprout  on  thy  shoulders,  raven 
tho'  thou  be.  Now  I  am  glad  that  thou  art  going 
thy  ways  to  the  Glittering  Plain  to-morrow;  for 
thou  wilt  be  good  company  to  me  on  the  way :  and 
I  deem  that  thou  wilt  be  no  churl  when  thou  art 
glad." 

"What,"  said  Hallblithe,  "art  thou  wending 
thither,  thou  old  man.?" 

"Yea,"  said  he,  "nor  shall  any  other  be  on 
the  ship  save  thou  and  I,  and  the  mariners  who 


52      THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

waft  us;  and  they  forsooth  shall  not  go  aland 
there.  Why  should  not  I  go,  since  there  are 
men  to  bear  me  aboard  ?  " 

Said  Hallblithe,  "And  when  thou  art  come 
aland  there  what  wilt  thou  do?  " 

"Thou  shalt  see,  my  son,"  said  the  Long- 
hoary.  "  It  may  be  that  thy  good  wishes  shall 
be  of  avail  to  me.  But  now  since  all  this  may 
only  be  if  I  live  through  this  night,  and  since 
my  heart  hath  been  warmed  by  the  good  mead, 
and  thy  fellowship,  and  whereas  I  am  somewhat 
sleepy,  and  it  is  long  past  noon,  go  forth  into 
the  hall,  and  leave  me  to  sleep,  that  I  may  be 
as  sound  as  eld  will  let  me  to-morrow.  And  as 
for  thee,  folk,  both  men  and  women  shall  pres- 
ently come  into  the  hall,  and  I  deem  not  that 
any  shall  meddle  with  thee;  but  if  so  be  that 
any  challenge  thee,  w^hatsoever  may  be  his  words, 
answer  thou  to  him  '  THE  HOUSE  OF  THE 
UNDYING,'  and  there  will  be  an  end  of  it. 
Only  look  thou  to  it  that  no  naked  steel  cometh 
out  of  thy  scabbard.  Go  now,  and  if  thou  wilt, 
go  out  of  doors;  yet  art  thou  safer  within  doors 
and  nigher  unto  me." 

So  Hallblithe  went  back  into  the  main  hall, 
and  the  sun  had  gotten  round  now,  and  was 
shining  into  the  hall,  through  the  clerestory 
windows,    so   that   he   saw   clearly  all   that  was 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  53 

therein.  And  he  deemed  the  hall  fairer  within 
than  without;  and  especially  over  the  shut-beds 
were  many  stories  carven  in  the  panelling,  and 
Hallblithe  beheld  them  gladly.  But  of  one 
thing  he  marvelled,  that  whereas  he  was  in  an 
island  of  the  strong-thieves  of  the  waters,  and 
in  their  very  home  and  chiefest  habitation,  there 
were  no  ships  or  seas  pictured  in  that  imagery, 
but  fair  groves  and  gardens,  with  flowery  grass 
and  fruited  trees  all  about.  And  there  were 
fair  women  abiding  therein,  and  lovely  young 
men,  and  warriors,  and  strange  beasts  and  many 
marvels,  and  the  ending  of  wrath  and  beginning 
of  pleasure,  and  the  crowning  of  love.  And 
amidst  these  was  pictured  oft  and  again  a  mighty 
king  with  a  sword  by  his  side  and  a  crown  on 
his  head;  and  ever  was  he  smiling  and  joyous, 
so  that  Hallblithe,  when  he  looked  on  him,  felt 
of  better  heart  and  smiled  back  on  the  carven 
image. 

So  .while  Hallblithe  looked  on  these  things, 
and  pondered  his  case  carefully,  all  alone  as  he 
was  in  that  alien  hall,  he  heard  a  noise  without 
of  talking  and  laughter,  and  presently  the  pat- 
tering of  feet  therewith,  and  then  women  came 
into  the  hall,  a  score  or  more,  some  young, 
some  old,  some  fair  enough,  and  some  hard- 
featured  and  uncomely,  but  all  above  the  stature 


54      THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

of   the   women   whom    he  had  seen   in    his   own 
land. 

So  he  stood  amidst  the  hall-floor  and  abided 
them;  and  they  saw  him  and  his  shining  war-gear, 
and  ceased  their  talking  and  laughter,  and  drew 
round  about  him,  and  gazed  at  him;  but  none  said 
aught  till  an  old  crone  came  forth  from  the  ring, 
and  said :  "  Who  art  thou,  standing  under  weapons 
in  our  hall  ?  " 

He  knew  not  what  to  answer,  and  held  his 
peace ;  and  she  spake  again :  "  Whither  wouldest 
thou,  what  seekest  thou?" 

Then  answered  Hallblithe:  "THE  HOUSE 
OF   THE   UNDYING." 

None  answered,  and  the  other  women  all  fell 
away  from  him  at  once,  and  went  about  their 
business  hither  and  thither  through  the  hall. 
But  the  old  crone  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  led 
him  up  to  the  dais,  and  set  him  next  to  the 
midmost  high-seat.  Then  she  made  as  if  she 
would  do  off  his  war-gear,  and  he  would  not 
gainsay  her,  though  he  deemed  that  foes  might 
be  anear;  for  in  sooth  he  trusted  in  the  old 
carle  that  he  would  not  bewray  him,  and  more- 
over he  deemed  it  would  be  unmanly  not  to  take 
the  risks  of  the  guesting,  according  to  the 
custom  of  that   country. 

So  she  took  his  armour  and  his  weapons  and 


OR,  THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  55 

bore  them  off  to  a  shut-bed  next  to  that  wherein 
lay  the  ancient  man,  and  she  laid  the  gear  within 
it,  all  save  the  spear,  which  she  laid  on  the  wall- 
pins  above;  and  she  made  signs  to  him  that 
therein  he  was  to  lie;  but  she  spake  no  word  to 
him.  Then  she  brought  him  the  hand-washing 
water  in  a  basin  of  latten,  and  a  goodly  towel 
therewith,  and  when  he  had  washed  she  went 
away  from  him,   but  not  far. 

This  while  the  other  women  were  busy  about 
the  hall;  some  swept  the  floor  down,  and  when 
it  was  swept  strawed  thereon  rushes  and  hand- 
fuls  of  wild  thyme :  some  went  into  the  buttery 
and  bore  forth  the  boards  and  the  trestles :  some 
went  to  the  chests  and  brought  out  the  rich 
hangings,  the  goodly  bankers  and  dorsars,  and 
did  them  on  the  walls :  some  bore  in  the  stoups 
and  horns  and  beakers,  and  some  went  their 
ways  and  came  not  back  awhile,  for  they  were 
busied  about  the  cooking.  But  whatever  they  did, 
none  hailed  him,  or  heeded  him  more  than  if  he 
had  been  an  image,  as  he  sat  there  looking  on. 
None  save  the  old  woman  who  brought  him  the 
fore-supper,  to  wit  a  great  horn  of  mead,  and 
cakes  and  dried  fish. 

So  was  the  hall  arrayed  for  the  feast  very 
fairly,  and  Hallblithe  sat  there  while  the  sun 
westered  and  the  house  grew  dim,  and  dark  at 


56      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   TLAIN ; 

last,  and  they  lighted  the  candles  up  and  down 
the  hall.  But  a  little  after  these  were  lit,  a 
great  horn  was  winded  close  without,  and  there- 
after came  the  clatter  of  arms  about  the  door, 
and  exceeding  tall  weaponed  men  came  in,  one 
score  and  five,  and  strode  two  by  two  up  to  the 
foot  of  the  dais,  and  stood  there  in  a  row.  And 
Hallblithe  deemed  their  war-gear  exceeding  good; 
they  were  all  clad  in  ring-locked  byrnies,  and 
had  steel  helms  on  their  heads  with  garlands  of 
gold  wrought  about  them  and  they  bore  spears 
in  their  hands,  and  white  shields  hung  at  their 
backs.  Now  came  the  women  to  them  and  un- 
armed them ;  and  under  their  armour  their  rai- 
ment was  black ;  but  they  had  gold  rings  on  their 
arms,  and  golden  collars  about  their  necks.  So 
they  strode  up  to  the  dais  and  took  their  places 
on  the  high-seat,  not  heeding  Hallblithe  any  more 
than  if  he  were  an  image  of  wood.  Nevertheless 
that  man  sat  next  to  him  who  was  the  chieftain 
of  all  and  sat  in  the  midmost  high-seat;  and  he 
bore  his  sheathed  sword  in  his  hand  and  laid  it 
on  the  board  before  him,  and  he  was  the  only  man 
of  those  chieftains  who  had  a  weapon. 

But  when  these  were  set  down  there  was  again 
a  noise  without,  and  there  came  in  a  throng  of 
men  armed  and  unarmed  who  took  their  places 
on  the  endlong  benches  up  and  down  the  hall; 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  57 

with  these  came  women  also,  who  most  of  them 
sat  amongst  the  men,  but  some  busied  them  with 
serving:  all  these  men  were  great  of  stature,  but 
none  so  big  as  the  chieftains  on  the  high-seat. 

Now  came  the  women  in  from  the  kitchen 
bearing  the  meat,  whereof  no  little  was  flesh- 
meat,  and  all  was  of  the  best.  Hallblithe  was 
duly  served  like  the  others,  but  still  none  spake 
to  him  or  even  looked  on  him;  though  amongst 
themselves  they  spoke  in  big,  rough  voices  so 
that  the  rafters  of  the  hall  rang  again. 

When  they  had  eaten  their  fill  the  women 
filled  round  the  cups  and  the  horns  to  them, 
and  those  vessels  were  both  great  and  goodly. 
But  ere  they  fell  to  drinking  up  rose  the  chief- 
tain who  sat  furthest  from  the  mid-most  high- 
seat  on  the  right  and  cried  a  health:  "THE 
TREASURE  OF  THE  SEA!"  Then  they 
all  stood  up  and  shouted,  women  as  well  as 
men,  and  emptied  their  horns  and  cups  to  that 
health.  Then  stood  up  the  man  furthest  on  the 
left  and  cried  out,  ''Drink  a  health  to  the  Undy- 
ing King ! "  And  again  all  men  rose  up  and 
shouted  ere  they  drank.  Other  healths  they 
drank,  as  the  "Cold  Keel,"  the  "Windworn 
Sail,"  the  "Quivering  Ash"  and  the  "Furrowed 
Beach."  And  the  wine  and  mead  flowed  like 
rivers    in   that   hall  of  the  Wild  Men.     As  for 


58      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Hallblithe,  he  drank  what  he  would  but  stood 
not  up,  nor  raised  his  cup  to  his  lips  when  a 
health  was  drunk;  for  he  knew  not  whether 
these  men  were  his  friends  or  his  foes,  and  he 
deemed  it  would  be  little-minded  to  drink  to 
their  healths,  lest  he  might  be  drinking  death 
and  confusion  to  his  own  kindred. 

But  when  men  had  drunk  awhile,  again  a  horn 
blew  at  the  nether  end  of  the  hall,  and  straight- 
way folk  arose  from  the  endlong  tables,  and  took 
away  the  boards  and  trestles,  and  cleared  the 
floor  and  stood  against  the  wall;  then  the  big 
chieftain  beside  Hallblithe  arose  and  cried  out: 
"Now  let  man  dance  with  maid,  and  be  we 
merry!  Music,  strike  up!"  Then  flew  the 
fiddle-bows  and  twanged  the  harps,  and  the 
carles  and  queens  stood  forth  on  the  floor;  and 
all  the  women  were  clad  in  black  raiment,  albeit 
embroidered  with  knots  and  wreaths  of  flowers. 
Awhile  they  danced  and  then  suddenly  the  music 
fell,  and  they  all  went  back  to  their  places. 
Then  the  chieftain  in  the  high  seat  arose  and 
took  a  horn  from  his  side,  and  blew  a  great 
blast  on  it  that  filled  the  hall;  then  he  cried 
in  a  loud  voice:  "Be  we  merry!  Let  the  cham- 
pions come  forth !  " 

Men  shouted  gleefully  thereat,  and  straight- 
way ran  into  the  hall  from  out  the  screens  three 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  59 

tall  men  clad  all  in  black  armour  with  naked 
swords  in  their  hands,  and  stood  amidst  the 
hall-floor,  somewhat  on  one  side,  and  clashed 
their  swords  on  their  shields  and  cried  out : 
"  Come  forth  ye  Champions  of  the  Raven ! " 

Then  leapt  Hallblithe  from  his  seat  and  set 
his  hand  to  his  left  side,  but  no  sword  was 
there;  so  he  sat  down  again,  remembering  the 
warning  of  the  Elder,   and  none  heeded  him. 

Then  there  came  into  the  hall  slowly  and 
mournfully  three  men-at-arms,  clad  and  weap- 
oned  like  the  warriors  of  his  folk,  with  the  im- 
age of  the  Raven  on  their  helms  and  shields. 
So  Hallblithe  refrained  him,  for  besides  that 
this  seemed  like  to  be  a  fair  battle  of  three 
against  three,  he  doubted  some  snare,  and  he 
determined  to  look  on  and  abide. 

So  the  champions  fell  to  laying  on  strokes 
that  were  no  child's  play,  though  Hallblithe 
doubted  if  the  edges  bit,  and  it  was  but  a  little 
while  before  the  Champions  of  the  Raven  fell 
one  after  another  before  the  Wild  Men,  and  folk 
drew  them  by  the  heels  out  into  the  buttery. 
Then  arose  great  laughter  and  jeering,  and  ex- 
ceeding wroth  was  Hallblithe;  howbeit  he  re- 
frained him  because  he  remembered  all  he  had 
to  do.  But  the  three  Champions  of  the  Sea 
strode   round   the   hall,  tossing   up  their  swords 


Co     THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

and  catching  them  as  they  fell,  while  the  horns 
blew  up  behind  them. 

After  a  while  the  hall  grew  hushed,  and  the 
chieftain  arose  and  cried :  "  Bring  in  now  some 
sheaves  of  the  harvest  we  win,  we  lads  of  the 
oar  and  the  arrow!"  Then  was  there  a  stir  at 
the  screen  doors,  and  folk  pressed  forward  to 
see,  and,  lo,  there  came  forward  a  string  of 
women,  led  in  by  two  weaponed  carles ;  and  the 
women  were  a  score  in  number,  and  they  were 
barefoot  and  their  hair  hung  loose  and  their 
gowns  were  ungirt,  and  they  were  chained  to- 
gether wrist  to  wrist;  yet  had  they  gold  at  arm 
and  neck:  there  was  silence  in  the  hall  when 
they  stood  amidst  of  the  floor. 

Then  indeed  Hallblithe  could  not  refrain  him- 
self, and  he  leapt  from  his  seat  and  on  to  the 
board,  and  over  it,  and  ran  down  the  hall,  and 
came  to  those  women  and  looked  them  in  the 
face  one  by  one,  while  no  man  spake  in  the  hall. 
But  the  Hostage  was  not  amongst  them ;  nay  for- 
sooth, they  none  of  them  favoured  of  the  daughters 
of  his  people,  though  they  were  comely  and  fair;  so 
that  again  Hallblithe  doubted  if  this  were  aught 
but  a  feast-hall  play  done  to  anger  him ;  whereas 
there  was  but  little  grief  in  the  faces  of  those 
damsels,  and  more  than  one  of  them  smiled 
wantonly  in  his  face  as  he  looked  on  them. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  6 1 

So  he  turned  about  and  went  back  to  his  seat, 
having  said  no  word,  and  behind  him  arose  much 
mocking  and  jeering;  but  it  angered  him  little 
now;  for  he  remembered  the  rede  of  the  elder 
and  how  that  he  had  done  according  to  his  bid- 
ding, so  that  he  deemed  the  gain  was  his.  So 
sprang  up  talk  in  the  hall  betwixt  man  and  man, 
and  folk  drank  about  and  were  merry,  till  the 
chieftain  arose  again  and  smote  the  board  with 
the  flat  of  his  sword,  and  cried  out  in  a  loud  and 
angry  voice,  so  that  all  could  hear :  "  Now  let 
there  be  music  and  minstrelsy  ere  we  wend 
bed  ward !  " 

Therewith  fell  the  hubbub  of  voices,  and  there 
came  forth  three  men  with  great  harps,  and  a 
fourth  man  with  them,  who  was  the  minstrel; 
and  the  harpers  smote  their  harps  so  that  the 
roof  rang  therewith,  and  the  noise,  though  it 
was  great,  was  tunable,  and  when  they  had 
played  thus  a  little  while,  they  abated  their 
loudness  somewhat,  and  the  minstrel  lifted  his 
voice  and  sang : 

The  land  lies  black 
With  winter's  lack, 
The  wind  blows  cold 
Round  field  and  fold ; 
All  folk  are  within, 
And  but  weaving  they  win. 


62      THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Where  from  finger  to  finger 

the  shuttle  flies  fast, 

And  the  eyes  of  the  singer 

look  fain  on  the  cast, 

As  he  singcth  the  story 

of  summer  undone 

And  the  barley  sheaves  hoary 

ripe  under  the  sun. 

Then  the  maidens  stay 

The  light-hung  sley. 

And  the  shuttles  bide 

By  the  blue  web's  side, 

While  hand  in  hand 

With  the  carles  they  stand. 

But  ere  to  the  measure 

The  fiddles  strike  up, 

And  the  elders  yet  treasure 

the  last  of  the  cup. 

There  stand  they  a-hearkening 

the  blast  from  the  lift, 

And  e'en  night  is  a-darkening 

more  under  the  drift. 


There  safe  in  the  hall 
They  bless  the  wall, 
And  the  roof  o'er  head, 
Of  the  valiant  stead ; 
And  the  hands  they  praise 
Of  the  olden  days. 


OR,  THE   LAND    OF  LIVING   MEN.  6S 

Then  through  the  storm's  roaring 
the  fiddles  break  out, 
And  they  think  not  of  warring, 
but  cast  away  doubt, 
And,  man  before  maiden, 
their  feet  tread  the  floor. 
And  their  hearts  are  unladen 
of  all  that  they  bore. 


But  what  winds  are  o'er  cold 

For  the  heart  of  the  bold  ? 

What  seas  are  o'er-high 

For  the  undoomed  to  die? 

Dark  night  and  dread  wind, 

But  the  haven  we  find. 

Then  ashore  mid  the  flurry 

of  stone-washing  surf ! 

Cloud-hounds  the  moon  worry, 

but  light  lies  the  turf; 

Lo  the  long  dale  before  us  ! 

the  lights  at  the  end, 

Though  the  night  darkens  o'er  us, 

bid  whither  to  wend. 

Who  beateth  the  door 
By  the  foot-smitten  floor? 
What  guests  are  these 
From  over  the  seas  ? 
Take  shield  and  sword 
For  their  greeting-word. 


64      THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Lo,  lo,  the  dance  ended  ! 
Lo,  midst  of  the  hall 
The  fallow  blades  blended  ! 
Lo,  blood  on  the  wall ! 
Who  liveth,  who  dieth? 
O  men  of  the  sea, 
For  peace  the  folk  crieth  : 
our  masters  are  ye. 

Now  the  dale  lies  grey 

At  the  dawn  of  day ; 

And  fair  feet  pass 

O'er  the  wind-worn  grass ; 

And  they  turn  back  to  gaze 

On  the  roof  of  old  days. 

Come  tread  ye  the  oaken- 

fioored  hall  of  the  sea  ! 

Be  your  hearts  yet  unbroken ; 

so  fair  as  ye  be, 

That  kings  are  abiding 

unwedded  to  gain 

The  news  of  our  riding 

the  steeds  of  the  main. 

Much  shouting  and  laughter  arose  at  the  song's 
end;  and  men  sprang  up  and  waved  their  swords 
above  the  cups,  while  Hallblithe  sat  scowling 
down  on  their  merriment.  Lastly  arose  the 
chieftain  and  called  out  loudly  for  the  good- 
night cup,  and  it  went  round  and  all  men  drank. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  65 

Then  the  horn  blew  for  bed,  and  the  chieftains 
went  to  their  chambers,  and  the  others  went  to 
the  out-bowers  or  laid  them  down  on  the  hall- 
floor,  and  in  a  little  while  none  stood  upright 
thereon.  So  Hallblithe  arose,  and  went  to  the 
shut-bed  appointed  for  him,  and  laid  him  down 
and  slept  dreamlessly  till  the  morning. 


66     THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HALLBLITHE  TAKETH   SHIP   AGAIN   AWAY   FROM 
THE  ISLE  OF  RANSOM. 

WHEN  he  awoke,  the  sun  shone  into  the 
hall  by  the  windows  above  the  buttery, 
and  there  were  but  few  folk  left  therein.  But 
so  soon  as  Hallblithe  was  clad,  the  old  woman 
came  to  him,  and  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
led  him  to  the  board,  and  signed  to  him  to  eat 
of  what  was  thereon;  and  he  did  so;  and  by  then 
he  was  done,  came  folk  who  went  into  the  shut- 
bed  where  lay  the  Long-hoary,  and  they  brought 
him  forth  bed  and  all  and  bare  him  out  a-doors. 
Then  the  crone  brought  Hallblithe  his  arms  and 
he  did  on  byrny  and  helm,  girt  his  sword  to  his 
side,  took  his  spear  in  his  hand  and  went  out 
a-doors;  and  there  close  by  the  porch  lay  the 
Long-hoary  upon  a  horse  litter.  So  Hallblithe 
came  up  to  him  and  gave  him  the  sele  of  the 
day:  and  the  elder  said:  "Good  morrow,  son, 
I  am  glad  to  see  thee.  Did  they  try  thee  hard 
last  niofht  1 " 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  6j 

And  Hallblithe  saw  two  of  the  carles  that  had 
borne  out  the  elder,  that  they  were  talking  to- 
gether, and  they  looked  on  him  and  laughed 
mockingly;  so  he  said  to  the  elder:  "Even  fools 
may  try  a  wise  man,  and  so  it  befel  last  night. 
Yet,  as  thou  seest,  mumming  hath  not  slain  me." 

Said  the  old  man :  "  What  thou  sawest  was  not  all 
mumming;  it  was  done  according  to  our  customs; 
and  well  nigh  all  of  it  had  been  done,  even  hadst 
thou  not  been  there.  Nay,  I  will  tell  thee;  at 
some  of  our  feasts  it  is  not  lawful  to  eat  either 
for  the  chieftains  or  the  carles,  till  a  champion 
hath  given  forth  a  challenge,  and  been  answered 
and  met,  and  the  battle  fought  to  an  end.  But 
ye  men,  what  hindereth  you  to  go  to  the  horses' 
heads  and  speed  on  the  road  the  chieftain  who 
is  no  longer  way-worthy?" 

So  they  ran  to  the  horses  and  set  down  the 
dale  by  the  river-side,  and  just  as  Hallblithe 
was  going  to  follow  afoot  there  came  a  swain 
from  behind  the  house  leading  a  red  horse  which 
he  brought  to  Hallblithe  as  one  who  bids  mount. 
So  Hallblithe  leapt  into  the  saddle  and  at  once 
caught  up  with  the  litter  of  the  Long-hoary  down 
along  the  river.  They  passed  by  no  other  house, 
save  here  and  there  a  cot  beside  some  fold  or 
byre;  they  went  easily,  for  the  way  was  smooth 
by  the  river-^ide ;  so  in  less  than  two  hours  they 


68      THE   STORY  OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

came  where  the  said  river  ran  into  the  sea. 
There  was  no  beach  there,  for  the  water  was  ten 
fathom  deep  close  up  to  the  lip  of  the  land;  but 
there  was  a  great  haven  land-locked  all  but  a 
narrow  out-gate  betwixt  the  sheer  black  cliffs. 
Many  a  great  ship  might  have  lain  in  that  haven; 
but  as  now  there  was  but  one  lying  there,  a 
round-ship  not  very  great,  but  exceeding  trim 
and  meet  for  the  sea. 

There  without  more  ado  the  carles  took  the 
elder  from  the  litter  and  bore  him  aboard,  and 
Hallblithe  followed  him  as  if  he  had  been  so 
appointed.  They  laid  the  old  man  adown  on 
the  poop  under  a  tilt  of  precious  web,  and  so 
went  aback  by  the  way  that  they  had  come ;  and 
Hallblithe  went  and  sat  down  beside  the  Long- 
hoary,  who  spake  to  him  and  said :  "  Seest  thou, 
son,  how  easy  it  is  for  us  twain  to  be  shipped 
for  the  land  whither  we  would  go  .-•  But  as  easy 
as  it  is  for  thee  to  go  thither  whereas  we  are 
going,  just  so  hard  had  it  been  for  thee  to  go 
elsewhere.  Moreover  I  must  tell  thee  that  though 
many  an  one  of  the  Isle  of  Ransom  desireth  to 
go  this  voyage,  there  shall  none  else  go,  till  the 
world  is  a  year  older,  and  he  who  shall  go  then 
shall  be  likest  to  me  in  all  ways,  both  in  eld 
and  in  feebleness,  and  in  gibing  speech,  and  all 
else;    and  now  that  I  am  gone,    his  name  shall 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  69 

be  the  same  as  that  whereby  ye  may  call  me  to- 
day, and  that  is  Grandfather.  Art  thou  glad  or 
sorry,   Hallblithe?" 

"Grandfather,"  said  Hallblithe,  "I  can  scarce 
tell  thee :  I  move  as  one  who  hath  no  will  to 
wend  one  way  or  other.  Meseems  I  am  drawn 
to  go  thither  whereas  we  are  going;  therefore  I 
deem  that  I  shall  find  my  beloved  on  the  Glit- 
tering Plain :  and  whatever  befalleth  afterward, 
let  it  be  as  it  will!" 

"Tell  me,  my  son,"  said  the  Grandfather, 
"  how  many  women  are  there  in  the  world  ?  " 

."How  may  I  tell  thee?"  said  Hallblithe. 

"Well,  then,"  said  the  elder,  "how  many 
exceeding  fair  women  are  there?  " 

Said  Hallblithe,  "Indeed  I  wot  not." 

"How  many  of  such  hast  thou  seen? "  said  the 
Grandfather. 

"Many,"  said  Hallblithe;  "the  daughters  of 
my  folk  are  fair,  and  there  will  be  many  other 
such   amongst  the  aliens." 

Then  laughed  the  elder,  and  said:  "Yet,  my 
son,  he  who  had  been  thy  fellow  since  thy  sun- 
dering from  thy  beloved,  would  have  said  that 
in  thy  deeming  there  is  but  one  woman  in  the 
world ;  or  at  least  one  fair  woman  :  is  it  not  so  ?  " 

Then  Hallblithe  reddened  at  first,  as  though 
he  were  angry;  then  he  said:  "Yea,  it  is  so." 


7©      THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Said  the  Grandfather  in  a  musin*:^  way :  "  I  won- 
der if  before  long  I  shall  think  of  it  as  thou  dost." 

Then  Hallblithe  gazed  at  him  marv^elling,  and 
studied  to  see  wherein  lay  the  gibe  against 
himself;  and  the  Grandfather  beheld  him,  and 
laughed  as  well  as  he  might,  and  said:  "Son, 
son,   didst  thou  not  wish  me  youth?" 

"Yea,"  said  Hallblithe,  "but  what  ails  thee 
to  laugh  so?     What  is  it  I  have  said  or  done?  " 

"Nought,  nought,"  said  the  elder,  laughing 
still  more,  "only  thou  lookest  so  mazed.  And 
who  knoweth  what  thy  wish  may  bring  forth?  " 

Thereat  was  Hallblithe  sore  puzzled;  but  while 
he  set  himself  to  consider  what  the  old  carle 
might  mean,  uprose  the  hale  and  how  of  the 
mariners;  they  cast  off  the  hawsers  from  the 
shore,  ran  out  the  sweeps,  and  drove  the  ship 
through  the  haven-gates.  It  was  a  bright  sunny 
day;  within,  the  green  water  was  oily-smooth, 
without  the  rippling  waves  danced  merrily  under 
a  light  breeze,  and  Hallblithe  deemed  the  wind 
to  be  fair;  for  the  mariners  shouted  joyously  and 
made  all  sail  on  the  ship ;  and  she  lay  over  and 
sped  through  the  waves,  casting  off  the  seas  from 
her  black  bows.  Soon  were  they  clear  of  those 
swart  cliffs,  and  it  was  but  a  little  afterwards 
that  the  Isle  of  Ransom  was  grown  deep  blue 
behind  them  and  far  away. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  7 1 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THEY  COME  TO   THE  LAND   OF  THE  GLITTERING 
PLAIN. 

AS  in  the  hall,  so  in  the  ship,  Hallblithe 
noted  that  the  folk  were  merry  and  of 
many  words  one  with  another,  while  to  him  no 
man  cast  a  word  save  the  Grandfather.  As  to 
Hallblithe,  though  he  wondered  much  what  all 
this  betokened,  and  what  the  land  was  whereto 
he  was  wending,  he  was  no  man  to  fear  an  un- 
boded  peril ;  and  he  said  to  himself  that  what- 
ever else  betid,  he  should  meet  the  Hostage 
on  the  Glittering  Plain;  so  his  heart  rose  and 
he  was  of  good  cheer,  and  as  the  Grandfather 
had  foretold,  he  was  a  merry  faring-fellow  to 
him.  Many  a  gibe  the  old  man  cast  at  him,  and 
whiles  Hallblithe  gave  him  back  as  good  as  he 
took,  and  whiles  he  laughed  as  the  stroke  went 
home  and  silenced  him;  and  whiles  he  under- 
stood nought  of  what  the  elder  said.  So  wore 
the  day  and  still  the  wind  held  fair,  though  it 
was  light;  and  the  sun  set  in  a  sky  nigh  cloud- 


72      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

less,  and  there  was  nowhere  any  forecast  of  peril. 
But  when  night  was  come,  Hallblithe  lay  down  on 
a  fair  bed,  which  was  dight  for  him  in  the  poop, 
and  he  soon  fell  asleep  and  dreamed  not  save  such 
dreams  as  are  but  made  up  of  bygone  memories, 
and  betoken  nought,  and  are  not  remembered. 

When  he  awoke,  day  lay  broad  on  the  sea,  and 
the  waves  were  little,  the  sky  had  but  few  clouds, 
the  sun  shone  bright,  and  the  air  was  warm  and 
sweet-breathed. 

He  looked  aside  and  saw  the  old  man  sitting 
up  in  his  bed,  as  ghastly  as  a  dead  man  dug  up 
again:  his  bushy  eye-brows  were  wrinkled  over 
his  bleared  old  eyes,  the  long  white  hair  dangled 
forlorn  from  his  gaunt  head:  yet  was  his  face 
smiling  and  he  looked  as  happy  as  the  soul 
within  him  could  make  the  half-dead  body.  He 
turned  now  to  Hallblithe  and  said:  "Thou  art 
late  awake:  hadst  thou  been  waking  earlier,  the 
sooner  had  thine  heart  been  gladdened.  Go  for- 
ward now,  and  gaze  thy  fill  and  come  and  tell 
me  thereof." 

"Thou  art  happy,  Grandfather,"  said  Hall- 
blithe, "what  good  tidings  hath  morn  brought 
us?" 

"The  land!  the  land!"  said  the  Long-hoary; 
"there  are  no  longer  tears  in  this  old  body,  else 
should  I  be  weeping  for  joy." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  73 

Said  Hallblithe:  "Art  thou  going  to  meet  some 
one  who  shall  make  thee  glad  before  thou  diest, 
old  man?  " 

"Some  one?"  said  the  elder;  "what  one?  Are 
they  not  all  gone?  burned,  and  drowned,  and 
slain  and  died  abed?  Some  one,  young  man? 
Yea,  forsooth  some  one  indeed !  Yea,  the  great 
warrior  of  the  Wasters  of  the  Shore;  the  Sea- 
eagle  who  bore  the  sword  and  the  torch  and  the 
terror  of  the  Ravagers  over  the  coal-blue  sea. 
It  is  myself,  MYSELF  that  I  shall  find  on  the 
Land  of  the  Glittering  Plain,  O  young  lover!" 

Hallblithe  looked  on  him  wondering  as  he 
raised  his  wasted  arms  toward  the  bows  of  the 
ship  pitching  down  the  slope  of  the  sunlit  sea, 
or  climbing  up  it.  Then  again  the  old  man  fell 
back  on  his  bed  and  muttered  "What  fool's  work 
is  this !  that  thou  wilt  draw  me  on  to  talk  loud, 
and  waste  my  body  with  lack  of  patience.  I  will 
talk  with  thee  no  more,  lest  my  heart  swell  and 
break,  and  quench  the  little  spark  of  life  v/ithin 
me." 

Then  Hallblithe  arose  to  his  feet,  and  stood 
looking  at  him,  wondering  so  much  at  his  words, 
that  for  a  while  he  forgat  the  land  which  they 
were  nearing,  though  he  had  caught  glimpses 
of  it,  as  the  bows  of  the  round-ship  fell  down- 
ward into  the  hollow  of  the  sea.     The  wind  was 


74      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

but  light,  as  hath  been  said,  and  the  waves  little 
under  it,  but  there  was  still  a  smooth  swell  of 
the  sea  which  came  of  breezes  now  dead,  and  the 
ship  wallowed  thereon  and  sailed  but  slowly. 

In  a  while  the  old  man  opened  his  eyes  again, 
and  said  in  a  low  peevish  voice :  "  Why  standest 
thou  staring  at  me?  "  why  hast  thou  not  gone 
forward  to  look  upon  the  land?  True  it  is  that 
ye  Ravens  are  short  of  wits."  Said  Hallblithe: 
"Be  not  wrath,  chieftain;  I  was  wondering  at 
thy  words,  which  are  exceeding  marvellous;  tell 
me  more  of  this  land  of  the  Glittering  Plain." 

Said  the  Grandfather:  "Why  should  I  tell  it 
thee?  ask  of  the  mariners.  They  all  know  more 
than  thou  dost." 

"Thou  knowest,"  said  Hallblithe,  "that  these 
men  speak  not  to  me,  and  take  no  more  heed  of 
me  than  if  I  were  an  image  which  they  were 
carrying  to  sell  to  the  next  mighty  man  they  may 
hap  on.  Or  tell  me,  thou  old  man,"  said  he 
fiercely,  "  is  it  perchance  a  thrallmarket  whereto 
they  are  bringing  me?  Have  they  sold  her 
there,  and  will  they  sell  me  also  in  the  same 
place,  but  into  other  hands  ?  " 

"  Tush !  "  said  the  Grandfather  somewhat  feebly, 
"this  last  word  of  thine  is  folly;  there  is  no  buy- 
ing or  selling  in  the  land  whereto  we  are  bound. 
As  to  thine  other  word,  that  these  men  have  no 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  75 

fellowship  with  thee,  it  is  true:  thou  art  my  fel- 
low and  the  fellow  of  none  else  aboard.  There- 
fore if  I  feel  might  in  me,  maybe  I  will  tell  thee 
somewhat." 

Then  he  raised  his  head  a  little  and  said: 
"The  sun  grows  hot,  the  wind  faileth  us,  and 
slow  and    slow   are   we   sailing." 

Even  as  he  spoke  there  was  a  stir  amidships, 
and  Hallblithe  looked  and  beheld  the  mariners 
handling  the  sweeps,  and  settling  themselves  on 
the  rowing-benches.  Said  the  elder:  "There  is 
noise  amidships,  what  are  they  doing  .-^  " 

The  old  man  raised  himself  a  little  again,  and 
cried  out  in  his  shrill  voice :  "  Good  lads !  brave 
lads !  Thus  would  we  do  in  the  old  time  when 
we  drew  anear  some  shore,  and  the  beacons  were 
sending  up  smoke  by  day,  and  flame  benights ; 
and  the  shore-abiders  did  on  their  helms  and 
trembled.  Thrust  her  through  lads !  Thrust 
her  along ! "  Then  he  fell  back  again,  and  said 
in  a  weak  voice :  "  Make  no  more  delay,  guest, 
but  go  forward  and  look  upon  the  land,  and 
come  back  and  tell  me  thereof,  and  then  the 
tale  may  flow  from  me.  Haste,  haste !  "  So 
Hallblithe  went  down  from  the  poop,  and  into 
the  waist,  where  now  the  rowers  were  bending 
to  their  oars,  and  crying  out  fiercely  as  they 
tugged  at  the   quivering   ash;  and  he  clomb  on 


"jG      THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

to  the  forecastle  and  went  forward  right  to  the 
dragon-head,  and  gazed  long  upon  the  land,  while 
the  dashing  of  the  oar-blades  made  the  semblance 
of  a  gale  about  the  ship's  black  sides.  Then  he 
came  back  again  to  the  Sea-eagle,  who  said  to 
him:    "Son,   what  hast  thou  seen?" 

"Right  ahead  lieth  the  land,  and  it  is  still  a 
good  way  off.  High  rise  the  mountains  there, 
but  by  seeming  there  is  no  snow  on  them;  and 
though  they  be  blue  they  are  not  blue  like  the 
mountains  of  the  Isle  of  Ransom.  Also  it 
seemed  to  me  as  if  fair  slopes  of  woodland  and 
meadow  come  down  to  the  edge  of  the  sea.  But 
it  is  yet  far  away." 

"Yea,"  said  the  elder,  "is  it  so?  Then  will  I 
not  wear  myself  with  making  words  for  thee.  I 
will  rest  rather,  and  gather  might.  Come  again 
when  an  hour  hath  worn,  and  tell  me  what  thou 
seest;  and  mayhappen  then  thou  shalt  have  my 
tale!"  And  he  laid  himself  down  therewith  and 
seemed  to  be  asleep  at  once.  And  Hallblithe 
might  not  amend  it;  so  he  waited  patiently  till 
the  hour  had  worn,  and  then  went  forward  again, 
and  looked  long  and  carefully,  and  came  back 
and  said  to  the  Sea-eagle,  "The  hour  is  worn." 

The  old  chieftain  turned  himself  about  and 
said :  "  What  hast  thou  seen  ?  " 

Said  Hallblithe:  "The  mountains  are  pale  and 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  'J'] 

high,  and  below  them  are  hills  dark  with  wood, 
and  betwixt  them  and  the  sea  is  a  fair  space  of 
meadow-land,   and  methought  it  was  wide." 

Said  the  old  man :  "  Sawest  thou  a  rocky  skerry- 
rising  high  out  of  the  sea  anigh  the  shore?  " 

"Nay,"  said  Hallblithe,  "if  there  be,  it  is  all 
blended  with  the  meadows  and  the  hills."  Said 
the  Sea-eagle:  "Abide  the  wearing  of  another 
hour,  and  come  and  tell  me  again,  and  then  I 
may  have  a  gainful  word  for  thee. "  And  he  fell 
asleep  again.  But  Hallblithe  abided,  and  when 
the  hour  was  worn,  he  went  forward  and  stood 
on  the  forecastle.  And  this  was  the  third  shift 
of  the  rowers,  and  the  stoutest  men  in  the  ship 
now  held  the  oars  in  their  hands,  and  the  ship 
shook  thro'  all  her  length  and  breadth  as  they 
drave  her  over  the  waters. 

So  Hallblithe  came  aft  to  the  old  man  and 
found  him  asleep;  so  he  took  him  by  the  shoul- 
der, and  shook  him  and  said:  "Awake,  faring- 
fellow,  for  the  land  is  a-nigh. " 

So  the  old  man  sat  up  and  said :  "  What  hast 
thou  seen }  " 

Said  Hallblithe :  "  I  have  seen  the  peaks  and 
cliffs  of  the  far-off  mountains ;  and  below  them 
are  hills  green  with  grass  and  dark  with  woods, 
and  thence  stretch  soft  green  meadows  down  to 
the  sea-strand,  which  is  fair  and  smooth,  and 
yellow. " 


78      THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

"Sawest  thou  the  skeny?  "  said  the  Sea-eagle. 

"Yea,  I  saw  it,"  said  Hallblithe,  "and  it  rises 
sheer  from  out  the  sea  about  a  mile  from  the 
yellow  strand;  but  its  rocks  are  black,  like  the 
rocks  of  the  Isle  of  Ransom." 

"Son,"  said  the  elder,  "give  me  thine  hands 
and  raise  me  up  a  little."  So  Hallblithe  took 
him  and  raised  him  up,  so  that  he  sat  leaning 
against  the  pillows.  And  he  looked  not  on  Hall- 
blithe, but  on  the  bows  of  the  ship,  which  now 
pitched  but  a  little  up  and  down,  for  the  sea  was 
laid  quiet  now.  Then  he  cried  in  his  shrill, 
piping  voice:  "It  is  the  land!     It  is  the  land!" 

But  after  a  little  while  he  turned  to  Hallblithe 
and  spake :  "  Short  is  the  tale  to  tell :  thou  hast 
wished  me  youth,  and  thy  wish  hath  thriven; 
for  to-day,  ere  the  sun  goes  down  thou  shalt  see 
me  as  I  was  in  the  days  when  I  reaped  the  har- 
vest of  the  sea  with  sharp  sword  and  hardy  heart. 
For  this  is  the  land  of  the  Undying  King,  who 
is  our  lord  and  our  gift-giver;  and  to  some  he 
giveth  the  gift  of  youth  renewed,  and  life  that 
shall  abide  here  the  Gloom  of  the  Gods.  But 
none  of  us  all  may  come  to  the  Glittering  Plain 
and  the  King  Undying  without  turning  the  back 
for  the  last  time  on  the  Isle  of  Ransom :  nor  may 
any  men  of  the  Isle  come  hither  save  those  who 
are  of  the    House  of  the   Sea-eagle,  and  few  of 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  79 

those,  save  the  chieftains  of  the  House,  such  as 
are  they  who  sat  by  thee  on  the  high-seat  that 
even.  Of  these  once  in  a  while  is  chosen  one 
of  us,  who  is  old  and  spent  and  past  battle,  and 
is  borne  to  this  land  and  the  gift  of  the  Undying. 
Forsooth  some  of  us  have  no  will  to  take  the  gift, 
for  they  say  they  are  liefer  to  go  to  where  they 
shall  meet  more  of  our  kindred  than  dwell  on 
the  Glittering  Plain  and  the  Acre  of  the  Undy- 
ing; but  as  for  me  I  was  ever  an  overbearing 
and  masterful  man,  and  meseemeth  it  is  well  that 
I  meet  as  few  of  our  kindred  as  may  be :  for  they 
are  a  strifeful  race." 

Hereat  Hallblithe  marvelled  exceedingly,  and 
he  said:  "And what  am  I  in  all  this  story.?  Why 
am  I  come  hither  with  thy  furtherance .-' "  Said 
the  Sea-eagle :  "  We  had  a  charge  from  the  Undy- 
ing King  concerning  thee,  that  we  should  bring 
thee  hither  alive  and  well,  if  so  be  thou  camest 
to  the  Isle  of  Ransom.  For  what  cause  we  had 
the  charge,  I  know  not,  nor  do  I  greatly  heed." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "And  shall  I  also  have  that 
gift  of  undying  youth,  and  life  while  the  world 
of  men  and  gods  endureth .'' " 

"I  must  needs  deem  so,"  said  the  Sea-eagle, 
"  so  long  as  thou  abidest  on  the  Glittering  Plain ; 
and  I  see  not  how  thou  mayst  ever  escape 
thence." 


So      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Now  Hallblithe  heard  him,  how  he  said  "es- 
cape," and  thereat  he  was  somewhat  ill  at  ease, 
and  stood  and  pondered  a  little.  At  last  he  said: 
"Is  this  then  all  that  thou  hast  to  tell  me  con- 
cerning the  Glittering  Plain?" 

"By  the  Treasure  of  the  Sea!  "  said  the  Elder, 
"I  know  no  more  of  it.  The  living  shall  learn. 
But  I  suppose  that  thou  mayst  seek  thy  troth- 
plight  maiden  there  all  thou  wilt.  Or  thou 
mayst  pray  the  Undying  King  to  have  her 
thither  to  thee.  What  know  I  >  At  least,  it  is  like 
that  there  shall  be  no  lack  of  fair  women  there: 
or  else  the  promise  of  youth  renewed  is  nought 
and  vain.      Shall  this  not  be  enough  for  thee.-'" 

"Nay,"  said  Hallblithe. 

"What,"  said  the  elder,  "must  it  be  one  woman 
only.?" 

"One  only,"  said  Hallblithe. 

The  old  man  laughed  his  thin  mocking  laugh, 
and  said :  "  I  will  not  assure  thee  but  that  the 
land  of  the  Glittering  Plain  shall  change  all  that 
for  thee  so  soon  as  it  touches  the  soles  of  thy 
feet." 

Hallblithe  looked  at  him  steadily  and  smiled, 
and  said:  "Well  is  it  then  that  I  shall  find  the 
Hostage  there;  for  then  shall  we  be  of  one  mind, 
either  to  sunder  or  to  cleave  together.  It  is  well 
with  me  this  day." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  8 1 

"And  with  me  it  sliall  be  well  ere  long,"  said 
the  Sea-eagle. 

But  now  the  rowers  ceased  rowing  and  lay  on 
their  oars,  and  the  shipmen  cast  anchor;  for 
they  were  but  a  bowshot  from  the  shore,  and  the 
ship  swung  with  the  tide  and  lay  side-long  to 
the  shore.  Then  said  the  Sea-eagle :  "  Look 
forth,   shipmate,  and  tell  me  of  the  land." 

And  Hallblithe  looked  and  said:  "The  yellow 
beach  is  sandy  and  shell-strewn,  as  I  deem,  and 
there  is  no  great  space  of  it  betwixt  the  sea  and 
the  flowery  grass ;  and  a  bowshot  from  the  strand 
I  see  a  little  wood  amidst  which  are  fair  trees 
blossoming." 

"Seest  thou  any  folk  on  the  shore.''"  said  the 
old  man.  "Yea,"  said  Hallblithe,  "close  to  the 
edge  of  the  sea  go  four;  and  by  seeming  three 
are  women,  for  their  long  gowns  flutter  in  the 
wind.  And  one  of  these  is  clad  in  saffron  colour, 
and  another  in  white,  and  another  in  watchet ;  but 
the  carle  is  clad  in  dark  red;  and  their  raiment 
is  all  glistening  as  with  gold  and  gems;  and  by 
seeming  they  are  looking  at  our  ship  as  though 
they  expected  somewhat." 

Said  the  Sea-eagle:  "Why  now  do  the  shipmen 
tarry  and  have  not  made  ready  the  skiff.''  Swill- 
ers  and  belly-gods  they  be;  slothful  swine  that 
forget  their  chieftain." 

6 


82      THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

But  even  as  he  spake  came  four  of  the  ship- 
men,  and  without  more  ado  took  him  up,  bed 
and  all,  and  bore  him  down  into  the  waist  of  the 
ship,  whereundcr  lay  the  skiff  with  four  strong 
rowers  lying  on  their  oars.  These  men  made 
no  sign  to  Hallblithe,  nor  took  any  heed  of  him ; 
but  he  caught  up  his  spear,  and  followed  them 
and  stood  by  as  they  lowered  the  old  man  into 
the  boat.  Then  he  set  his  foot  on  the  gunwale 
of  the  ship  and  leapt  down  lightly  into  the  boat, 
and  none  hindered  or  helped  him;  and  he  stood 
upright  in  the  boat,  a  goodly  image  of  battle 
with  the  sun  flashing  back  from  his  bright  helm, 
his  spear  in  his  hand,  his  white  shield  at  his 
back,  and  thereon  the  image  of  the  Raven;  but 
if  he  had  been  but  a  salt-boiling  carle  of  the 
sea-side  none  would  have  heeded  him  less. 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  83 


CHAPTER   X. 

THEY  HOLD   CONVERSE  WITH  FOLK  OF  THE 

GLITTERING   PLAIN. 

NOW  the  rowers  lifted  the  ash-blades,  and 
fell  to  rowing  towards  shore :  and  almost 
with  the  first  of  their  strokes,  the  Sea-eagle 
moaned  out: 

"Would  we  were  there,  oh,  would  we  were 
there  !  Cold  groweth  eld  about  my  heart.  Ra- 
ven's Son,  thou  art  standing  up;  tell  me  if  thou 
canst  see  what  these  folk  of  the  land  are  doing, 
and  if  any  others  have  come  thither?" 

Said  Hallblithe:  "There  are  none  others  come, 
but  kine  and  horses  are  feeding  down  the  mead- 
ows. As  to  what  those  four  are  doing,  the 
women  are  putting  off  their  shoon,  and  girding 
up  their  raiment,  as  if  they  would  wade  the 
water  toward  us;  and  the  carle,  who  was  bare- 
foot before,  wendeth  straight  towards  the  sea, 
and  there  he  standeth,  for  very  little  are  the 
waves  become." 


84      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

The  old  man  answered  nothing-,  and  did  but 
groan  for  lack  of  patience;  but  presently  when 
the  water  was  yet  waist  deep  the  rowers  stayed 
the  skiff,  and  two  of  them  slipped  over  the  gun- 
wale into  the  sea,  and  between  them  all  they 
took  up  the  chieftain  on  his  bed  and  got  him 
forth  from  the  boat  and  went  toward  the  strand 
with  him;  and  the  landsfolk  met  them  where 
the  water  was  shallower,  and  took  him  from 
their  hands  and  bore  him  forth  on  to  the  yellow 
sand,  and  laid  him  down  out  of  reach  of  the 
creeping  ripple  of  the  tide.  Hallblithe  withal 
slipped  lightly  out  of  the  boat  and  waded  the 
water  after  them.  But  the  shipmen  rowed  back 
again  to  their  ship,  and  presently  Hallblithe 
heard  the  hale  and  how,  as  they  got  up  their 
anchor. 

But  when  Hallblithe  was  come  ashore,  and 
was  drawn  near  the  folk  of  the  land,  the  women 
looked  at  him  askance,  and  they  laughed  and 
said :  "  Welcome  to  thee  also,  O  young  man !  " 
And  he  beheld  them,  and  saw  that  they  were  of 
the  stature  of  the  maidens  of  his  own  land ;  they 
were  exceeding  fair  of  skin  and  shapely  of  fashion, 
so  that  the  nakedness  of  their  limbs  under  their 
girded  gowns,  and  all  glistening  with  the  sea,  was 
most  lovely  and  dainty  to  behold.  But  Hall- 
blithe  knelt   by   the    Sea-eagle  to  note   how   he 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  85 

fared,  and  said :  "  How  is  it  with  thee,   O  chief- 
tain?" 

The  old  man  answered  not  a  word,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  asleep,  and  Hallblithe  deemed  that 
his  cheeks  were  ruddier  and  his  skin  less  wasted 
and  wrinkled  than  aforetime.  Then  spake  one 
of  those  women :  "  Fear  not,  young  man ;  he  is 
well  and  will  soon  be  better. "  Her  voice  was 
as  sweet  as  a  spring  bird  in  the  morning;  she 
was  white-skinned  and  dark-haired,  and  full 
sweetly  fashioned;  and  she  laughed  on  Hall- 
blithe,  but  not  mockingly;  and  her  fellows  also 
laughed,  as  though  it  were  strange  for  him  to 
be  there.  Then  they  did  on  their  shoon  again, 
and  with  the  carle  laid  their  hands  to  the  bed 
whereon  the  old  man  lay,  and  lifted  him  up,  and 
bore  him  forth  on  to  the  grass,  turning  their  faces 
toward  the  flowery  wood  aforesaid;  and  they 
went  a  little  way  and  then  laid  him  down  again 
and  rested;  and  so  on  little  by  little,  till  they 
had  brought  him  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  and 
still  he  seemed  to  be  asleep.  Then  the  damsel 
who  had  spoken  before,  she  with  the  dark  hair, 
said  to  Hallblithe,  "Although  we  have  gazed  on 
thee  as  if  with  wonder,  this  is  not  because  we 
did  not  look  to  meet  thee,  but  because  thou  art 
so  fair  and  goodly  a  man :  so  abide  thou  here  till 
we  come  back  to  thee  from  out  of  the  wood." 


86     THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Therewith  she  stroked  his  hand,  and  with  her 
fellows  lifted  the  old  man  once  more,  and  they 
bore  him  out  of  sight  into  the  thicket. 

But  Hallblithe  went  to  and  fro  a  dozen  paces 
from  the  wood,  and  looked  across  the  flowery- 
meads  and  deemed  he  had  never  seen  any  so  fair. 
And  afar  off  toward  the  hills  he  saw  a  great  roof 
arising,  and  thought  he  could  see  men  also;  and 
nigher  to  him  were  kine  pasturing,  and  horses 
also,  whereof  some  drew  anear  him  and  stretched 
out  their  necks  and  gazed  at  him ;  and  they  were 
goodly  after  their  kind;  and  a  fair  stream  of 
water  came  round  the  corner  out  of  the  wood 
and  down  the  meadows  to  the  sea;  and  Hall- 
blithe  went  thereto  and  could  see  that  there  was 
but  little  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide  on  that  shore; 
for  the  water  of  the  stream  was  clear  as  glass, 
and  the  grass  and  flowers  grew  right  down  to  its 
water;  so  he  put  off  his  helm  and  drank  of  the 
stream  and  washed  his  face  and  his  hands  therein, 
and  then  did  on  his  helm  again  and  turned  back 
again  toward  the  wood,  feeling  very  strong  and 
merry;  and  he  looked  out  seaward  and  saw  the 
Ship  of  the  Isle  of  Ransom  lessening  fast;  for 
a  little  land  wind  had  arisen  and  they  had  spread 
their  sails  to  it;  and  he  lay  down  on  the  grass 
till  the  four  folk  of  the  country  came  out  of  the 
wood  again,  after  they  had  been  gone  somewhat 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  8/ 

less  than  an  hour,  but  the  Sea-eagle  was  not 
with  them :  and  Hallblithe  rose  up  and  turned 
to  them,  and  the  carle  saluted  him  and  departed, 
going  straight  toward  that  far-away  roof  he  had 
seen;  and  the  women  were  left  with  Hallblithe, 
and  they  looked  at  him  and  he  at  them  as  he 
stood  leaning  on  his  spear. 

Then  said  the  black-haired  damsel :  "  True  it 
is,  O  spearman,  that  if  we  did  not  know  of  thee, 
our  wonder  would  be  great  that  a  man  so  young 
and  lucky-looking  should  have  sought  hither." 

"I  wot  not  why  thou  shouldest  wonder,"  said 
Hallblithe;  "I  will  tell  thee  presently  wherefore 
I  come  hither.  But  tell  me,  is  this  the  Land 
of  the  Glittering  Plain .'' " 

"Even  so,"  said  the  damsel,  "dost  thou  not 
see  how  the  sun  shineth  on  it.-*  Just  so  it  shineth 
in  the  season  that  other  folks  call  winter." 

"Some  such  marvel  I  thought  to  hear  of,"  said 
he ;  "  for  I  have  been  told  that  the  land  is  marvel- 
lous; and  fair  though  these  meadows  be,  they 
are  not  marvellous  to  look  on  now:  they  are  like 
other  lands,   though  it  maybe,  fairer." 

"That  may  be,"  she  said;  "we  have  nought 
but  hearsay  of  other  lands.  If  we  ever  knew 
them  we  have  forgotten  them." 

Said  Hallblithe  "Is  this  land  called  also  the 
Acre  of  the  Undying.?" 

As  he  spake  the  words  the  smile  faded  from 


88      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  damsel's  face;  she  and  her  fellows  grew  pale, 
and  she  said:  "Hold  thy  peace  of  such  words! 
They  are  not  lawful  for  any  man  to  utter  here. 
Yet  mayst  thou  call  it  the  Land  of  the  Living." 

He  said:  "Lcrave  pardon  for  the  rash  word." 

Then  they  smiled  again,  and  drew  near  to  him, 
and  caressed  him  with  their  hands,  and  looked 
on  him  lovingly;  but  he  drew  a  little  aback  from 
them  and  said  :  "  I  have  come  hither  seeking  some- 
thing which  I  have  lost,  the  lack  whereof  grieveth 
me. 

Quoth  the  damsel,  drawing  nearer  to  him  again, 
"Mayst  thou  find  it,  thou  lovely  man,  and  what- 
soever else  thou  desirest. " 

Then  he  said :  "  Hath  a  woman  named  the 
Hostage  been  brought  hither  of  late  days.^*  A 
fair  woman,  bright-haired  and  grey-eyed,  kind  of 
countenance,  soft  of  speech,  yet  outspoken  and 
nought  timorous;  tall  according  to  our  stature, 
but  very  goodly  of  fashion;  a  woman  of  the 
House  of  the  Rose,  and  my  trothplight  maiden." 

They  looked  on  each  other  and  shook  their 
heads,  and  the  black-haired  damsel  spake:  "We 
know  of  no  such  a  woman,  nor  of  the  kindred 
which  thou  namest. " 

Then  his  countenance  fell,  and  became  piteous 
with  desire  and  grief,  and  he  bent  his  brows 
upon  them,  for  they  seemed  to  him  light-minded 
and  careless,  though  they  were  lovely.    . 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  89 

But  they  shrank  from  him  trembling,  and  drew 
aback;  for  they  had  all  been  standing  close  to 
him,  beholding  him  with  love,  and  she  who  had 
spoken  most  had  been  holding  his  left  hand 
fondly.  But  now  she  said:  "Nay,  look  not  on 
us  so  bitterly !  If  the  woman  be  not  in  the  land, 
this  Cometh  not  of  our  malice.  Yet  maybe  she  is 
here.  For  such  as  come  hither  keep  not  their  old 
names,  and  soon  forget  them  what  they  were. 
Thou  shalt  go  with  us  to  the  King,  and  he  shall 
do  for  thee  what  thou  wilt;  for  he  is  exceeding 
mighty. " 

Then  was  Hallblithe  appeased  somewhat ;  and 
he  said  :   "Are  there  many  women  in  the  land  ?  " 

"Yea,  many,"  said  that  damsel. 

"And  many  that  are  as  fair  as  ye  he?"  said 
he.  Then  they  laughed  and  were  glad,  and  drew 
near  to  him  again  and  took  his  hands  and  kissed 
them;  and  the  black-haired  damsel  said:  "Yea, 
yea,  there  be  many  as  fair  as  we  be,  and  some 
fairer,"  and  she  laughed. 

"And  that  King  of  yours,"  said  he,  "how  do 
ye  name  him  ?  " 

"He  is  the  King,"  said  the  damsel. 

"Hath  he  no  other  name.?"  said  Hallblithe. 
"We  may  not  utter  it,"  she  said;  "but  thou 
shalt  see  him  soon,  that  there  is  nought  but  good 
in  him  and  mightiness." 


go     THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN,* 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE   SEA- EAGLE  RENEWETH    HIS   LIFE. 

BUT  while  they  spake  together  thus,  came  a 
man  from  out  of  the  wood  very  tall  of  stature, 
red-bearded  and  black-haired,  ruddy-cheeked,  full- 
limbed,  most  joyous  of  aspect;  a  man  by  seeming 
of  five  and  thirty  winters.  He  strode  straight 
up  to  Hallblithe,  and  cast  his  arms  about  him, 
and  kissed  his  cheek,  as  if  he  had  been  an  old 
and  dear  friend  newly  come  from  over  seas. 

Hallblithe  wondered  and  laughed,  and  said: 
"Who  art  thou  that  deemest  me  so  dear?" 

Said  the  man:  "Short  is  thy  memory.  Son  of 
the  Raven,  that  thou  in  so  little  space  hast  for- 
gotten thy  shipmate  and  thy  faring-fellow;  who 
gave  thee  meat  and  drink,  and  good  rede  in  the 
Hall  of  the  Ravagers. "  Therewith  he  laughed 
joyously  and  turned  about  to  the  three  maidens 
and  took  them  by  the  hands  and  kissed  their  lips, 
while  they  fawned  upon  him  lovingly. 

Then  said  Hallblithe:  "Hast  thou  verily  gotten 
thy  youth  again,  which  thou  badest  me  wish  thee.^  " 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  91 

"Yea,  in  good  sooth,"  said  the  red-bearded 
man;  "I  am  the  Sea-eagle  of  old  days;  and  I 
have  gotten  my  youth,  and  love  therewithal,  and 
somewhat  to  love  moreover."  Therewith  he 
turned  to  the  fairest  of  the  damsels,  and  she 
was  white-skinned  and  fragrant  as  the  lily,  rose- 
cheeked  and  slender,  and  the  wind  played  with 
the  long  locks  of  her  golden  hair,  which  hung 
down  below  her  knees ;  so  he  cast  his  arms  about 
her  and  strained  her  to  his  bosom,  and  kissed 
her  face  many  times,  and  she  nothing  loth,  but 
caressing  him  with  lips  and  hand.  But  the  other 
two  damsels  stood  by  smiling  and  joyous:  and 
they  clapped  their  hands  together  and  kissed  each 
other  for  joy  of  the  new  lover;  and  at  last  fell 
to  dancing  and  skipping  about  them  like  young 
lambs  in  the  meadows  of  Spring-tide.  But 
amongst  them  all  stood  up  Hallblithe,  leaning 
on  his  spear  with  smiling  lips  and  knitted  brow; 
for  he  was  pondering  in  his  mind  in  what  wise 
he  might  further  his  quest. 

But  after  they  had  danced  a  while  the  Sea- 
eagle  left  his  love  that  he  had  chosen  and  took 
a  hand  of  either  of  the  two  other  damsels,  and 
led  them  tripping  up  to  Hallblithe,  and  cried 
out:  "Choose  thou.  Raven's  baby,  which  of 
these  twain  thou  wilt  have  to  thy  mate;  for 
scarcely  shalt  thou  see  better  or  fairer." 


92      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

But  Hallblithe  looked  on  them  proudly  and 
sternly,  and  the  black-haired  damsel  hung  down 
her  head  before  him  and  said  softly:  "Nay,  nay, 
sea-warrior;  this  one  is  too  lovely  to  be  our  mate. 
Sweeter  love  abides  him,  and  lips  more  longed 
for. " 

Then  stirred  Hallblithe's  heart  within  him  and 
he  said:  "  O  Eagle  of  the  Sea,  thou  hast  thy 
youth  again  :  what  then  wilt  thou  do  with  it  ?  Wilt 
thou  not  weary  for  the  moonlit  main,  and  the 
washing  of  waves  and  the  dashing  of  spray,  and 
thy  fellows  all  glistering  with  the  brine  ?  Where 
now  shall  be  the  alien  shores  before  thee,  and 
the  landing  for  fame,  and  departure  for  the  gain 
of  goods?  Wilt  thou  forget  the  ship's  black 
side,  and  the  dripping  of  the  windward  oars,  as 
the  squall  falleth  on  when  the  sun  hath  arisen, 
and  the  sail  tuggeth  hard  on  the  sheet,  and  the 
ship  lieth  over  and  the  lads  shout  against  the 
whistle  of  the  wind?  Has  the  spear  fallen  from 
thine  hand,  and  hast  thou  buried  the  sword  of 
thy  fathers  in  the  grave  from  which  thy  body 
hath  escaped?  What  art  thou,  O  Warrior,  in 
the  land  of  the  alien  and  the  King?  Who  shall 
heed  thee  or  tell  the  tale  of  thy  glory,  which 
thou  hast  covered  over  with  the  hand  of  a  light 
woman,  whom  thy  kindred  knoweth  not,  and  who 
was  not  born  in  a  house  wherefrom  it  hath  been 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  93 

appointed  thee  from  of  old  to  take  the  pleasure 
of  woman?  Whose  thrall  art  thou  now,  thou 
lifter  of  the  spoil,  thou  scarer  of  the  freeborn? 
The  bidding  of  what  lord  or  King  wilt  thou  do, 
O  Chieftain,  that  thou  mayst  eat  thy  meat  in  the 
morning  and  lie  soft  in  thy  bed  in  the  evening? 
O  Warrior  of  the  Ravagers,  here  stand  I,  Hall- 
blithe  of  the  Raven,  and  I  am  come  into  an  alien 
land  beset  with  marvels  to  seek  mine  own,  and 
find  that  which  is  dearest  to  mine  heart ;  to  wit, 
my  trothplight  maiden  the  Hostage  of  the  Rose, 
the  fair  woman  who  shall  lie  in  my  bed,  and  bear 
me  children,  and  stand  by  me  in  field  and  fold, 
by  thwart  and  gunwale,  before  the  bow  and  the 
spear,  by  the  flickering  of  the  cooking-fire,  and 
amidst  the  blaze  of  the  burning  hall,  and  beside 
the  bale-fire  of  the  warrior  of  the  Raven.  O  Sea- 
eagle,  my  guester  amongst  the  foemen,  my  fellow- 
farer  and  shipmate,  say  now  once  for  all  whether 
thou  wilt  help  me  in  my  quest,  or  fall  off  from 
me  as  a  dastard?  " 

Again  the  maidens  shrank  before  his  clear  and 
high-raised  voice,  and  they  trembled  and  grew 
pale. 

But  the  Sea-eagle  laughed  from  a  countenance 
kind  with  joy,  and  said :  "  Child  of  the  Raven, 
thy  words  are  good  and  manly:  but  it  availeth 
nought   in  this   land,    and   I   wot    not    how    thou 


94      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

wilt  fare,  or  why  thou  hast  been  sent  amongst 
us.  What  wilt  thou  do?  Hadst  thou  spoken 
these  words  to  the  Long-hoary,  the  Grandfather, 
yesterday,  his  ears  would  have  been  deaf  to  them ; 
and  now  that  thou  speakest  them  to  the  Sea-eagle, 
this  joyous  man  on  the  Glittering  Plain,  he  can- 
not do  according  to  them,  for  there  is  no  other 
land  than  this  which  can  hold  him.  Here  he  is 
strong  and  stark,  and  full  of  joy  and  love;  but 
otherwhere  he  would  be  but  a  gibbering  ghost 
drifting  down  the  wind  of  night.  Therefore  in 
whatsoever  thou  mayst  do  within  this  land  I  will 
stand  by  thee  and  help  thee;  but  not  one  inch 
beyond  it  may  my  foot  go,  whether  it  be  down 
into  the  brine  of  the  sea,  or  up  into  the  clefts 
of  the  mountains  which  are  the  wall  of  this  goodly 
land. 

"Thou  hast  been  my  shipmate  and  I  love  thee, 
I  am  thy  friend ;  but  here  in  this  land  must  needs 
be  the  love  and  the  friendship.  For  no  ghost 
can  love  thee,  no  ghost  may  help  thee.  And  as 
to  what  thou  sayst  concerning  the  days  gone  past 
and  our  joys  upon  the  tumbling  sea,  true  it  is 
that  those  days  were  good  and  lovely;  but  they 
are  dead  and  gone  like  the  lads  who  sat  on  the 
thwart  beside  us,  and  the  maidens  who  took  our 
hands  in  the  hall  to  lead  us  to  the  chamber. 
Other  days  have  come  in  their  stead,   and  other 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  95 

friends  shall  cherish  us.  What  then?  Shall  we 
wound  the  living  to  pleasure  the  dead,  who  can- 
not heed  it?  Shall  we  curse  the  Yuletide,  and 
cast  foul  water  on  the  Holy  Hearth  of  the  winter 
feast,  because  the  summer  once  was  fair  and  the 
days  flit  and  the  times  change?  Now  let  us  be 
glad!     For  life  liveth. " 

Therewith  he  turned  about  to  his  damsel  and 
kissed  her  on  the  mouth.  But  Hallblithe's  face 
was  grown  sad  and  stern,  and  he  spake  slowly 
and  heavily:  "So  is  it,  shipmate,  that  whereas 
thou  sayest  that  the  days  flit,  for  thee  they  shall 
flit  no  more;  and  the  day  may  come  for  thee 
when  thou  shalt  be  weary,  and  know  it,  and  long 
for  the'  lost  which  thou  hast  forgotten.  But 
hereof  it  availeth  nought  for  me  to  speak  any 
longer,  for  thine  ears  are  deaf  to  these  words, 
and  thou  wilt  not  hear  them.  Therefore  I  say 
no  more  save  that  I  thank  thee  for  thy  help  what- 
soever it  may  be;  and  I  will  take  it,  for  the  day's 
work  lieth  before  me,  and  I  begin  to  think  that 
it  may  be  heavy  enough." 

The  women  yet  looked  downcast,  and  as  if  they 
would  be  gone  out  of  earshot ;  but  the  Sea-eagle 
laughed  as  one  who  is  well  content,  and  said : 
**Thou  thyself  wilt  make  it  hard  for  thyself  after 
the  wont  of  thy  proud  and  haughty  race ;  but  for 
me  nothing  is  hard  any  longer;  neither  thy  scorn 


96     THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

nor  thy  forebodings  of  evil.  Be  thou  my  friend 
as  much  as  thou  canst,  and  I  will  be  thine  wholly. 
Now  ye  women,  whither  will  ye  lead  us?  For  I 
am  ready  to  see  any  new  thing  ye  will  show  us." 
Said  his  damsel:  "We  will  take  you  to  the 
King,  that  your  hearts  may  be  the  more  glad- 
dened. And  as  for  thy  friend  the  Spearman, 
O  Sea-warrior,  let  not  his  heart  be  downcast. 
Who  wotteth  but  that  these  two  desires,  the 
desire  of  his  heart,  and  the  desire  of  a  heart  for 
him,  may  not  be  one  and  the  same  desire,  so 
that  he  shall  be  fully  satisfied?"  As  she  spoke 
she  looked  sidelong  at  Hallblithe,  with  shy  and 
wheedling  eyes;  and  he  wondered  at  her  word, 
and  a  new  hope  sprang  up  in  his  heart  that  he 
was  presently  to  be  brought  face  to  face  with 
the  Hostage,  and  that  this  was  that  love,  sweeter 
than  their  love,  which  abode  in  him,  and  his 
heart  became  lighter,  and  his  visage  cleared. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  9/ 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THEY  LOOK   ON  THE   KING   OF  THE  GLITTERING 
PLAIN. 

SO  now  the  women  led  them  along  up  the 
stream,  and  Hallblithe  went  side  by  side 
by  the  Sea-eagle;  but  the  women  had  become 
altogether  merry  again,  and  played  and  ran  about 
them  as  gamesome  as  young  goats ;  and  they  waded 
the  shallows  of  the  clear  bright  stream  barefoot 
to  wash  their  limbs  of  the  seabrine,  and  strayed 
about  the  meadows,  plucking  the  flowers  and 
making  them  wreaths  and  chaplets,  which  they 
did  upon  themselves  and  the  Sea-eagle ;  but  Hall- 
blithe  they  touched  not,  for  still  they  feared  him. 
They  went  on  as  the  stream  led  them  up  toward 
the  hills,  and  ever  were  the  meads  about  them 
as  fair  and  flowery  as  might  be.  Folk  they  saw 
afar  off,  but  fell  in  with  none  for  a  good  while, 
saving  a  man  and  a  maid  clad  lightly  as  for  mid- 
summer days,  who  were  wandering  together  lov- 
-ingly  and  happily  by  the  stream-side,  and  who 
gazed  wonderingly  on  the  stark  Sea-eagle,  and  on 

7 


98      THE   STORV   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Hallblithe  with  his  glittering  spear.  The  black- 
haired  damsel  greeted  these  twain  and  spake 
something  to  them,  and  they  laughed  merrily,  . 
and  the  man  stooped  down  amongst  the  grasses 
and  blossoms  of  the  bank,  and  drew  forth  a  bas- 
ket, and  spread  dainty  victuals  on  the  grass  under 
a  willow-tree,  and  bade  them  be  his  guests  that 
fair  afternoon.  So  they  sat  down  there  above 
the  glistering  stream  and  ate  and  drank  and  were 
merry.  Thereafter  the  newcomers  and  their  way- 
leaders  departed  with  kind  words,  and  still  set 
their  faces  towards  the  hills. 

At  last  they  saw  before  them  a  little  wooded 
hill,  and  underneath  it  something  red  and  shin- 
ing, and  other  coloured  things  gleaming  in  the 
sun  about  it.  Then  said  the  Sea-eagle :  ' '  What 
have  we  yonder.-*"  Said  his  damsel:  "That  is 
the  pavilion  of  the  King;  and  about  it  are  the 
tents  and  tilts  of  our  folk  who  are  of  his  fellow- 
ship: for  oft  he  abideth  in  the  fields  with  them, 
though  he  hath  houses  and  halls  as  fair  as  the 
heart  of  man  can  conceive."  "Hath  he  no  foe- 
men  to  fear.-*  "  said  the  Sea-eagle.  "  How  should 
that  be.^"  said  the  damsel.  "If  perchance  any 
came  into  this  land  to  bring  war  upon  him,  their 
battle-anger  should  depart  when  once  the  bliss 
of  the  Glittering  Plain  had  entered  into  their 
souls,  and  they  would  ask  for  nought  but  leave 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  99 

to  abide  here  and  be  happy.  Yet  I  trow  that  if 
he  had  foemen  he  could  crush  them  as  easily  as 
I  set  my  foot  on  this  daisy." 

So  as  they  went  on  they  fell  in  with  many 
folk,  men  and  women,  sporting  and  playing  in 
the  fields ;  and  there  was  no  semblance  of  eld  on 
any  of  them,  and  no  scar  or  blemish  or  feeble- 
ness of  body  or  sadness  of  countenance;  nor  did 
any  bear  a  weapon  or  any  piece  of  armour.  Now 
some  of  them  gathered  about  the  new-comers, 
and  wondered  at  Hallblithe  and  his  long  spear 
and  shining  helm  and  dark  gray  byrny;  but  none 
asked  concerning  them,  for  all  knew  that  they 
were  folk  new  come  to  the  bliss  of  the  Glittering 
Plain.  So  they  passed  amidst  these  fair  folk 
little  hindered  by  them,  and  into  Hallblithe's 
thoughts  it  came  how  joyous  the  fellowship  of 
such  shpuld  be  and  how  his  heart  should  be 
raised  by  the  sight  of  them,  if  only  his  troth- 
plight  maiden  were  by  his  side. 

Thus  then  they  came  to  the  King's  pavilion, 
where  it  stood  in  a  bight  of  the  meadow-land  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  with  the  wood  about  it  on 
three  sides.  So  fair  a  house  Hallblithe  deemed 
he  had  never  seen ;  for  it  was  wrought  all  over 
with  histories  and  flowers,  and  with  hems  sewn 
with  gold,  and  with  orphreys  of  gold  and  pearl 
and  gems. 


lOO      THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

There  in  the  door  of  it  sat  the  King  of  the  Land 
in  an  ivory  chair;  he  was  clad  in  a  golden  gown, 
girt  with  a  girdle  of  gems,  and  had  his  crown  on 
his  head  and  his  sword  by  his  side.  For  this 
was  the  hour  wherein  he  heard  what  any  of  his 
folk  would  say  to  him,  and  for  that  very  end  he 
sat  there  in  the  door  of  his  tent,  and  folk  were 
standing  before  him,  and  sitting  and  lying  on 
the  grass  round  about;  and  now  one,  now  an- 
other, came  up  to  him  and  spoke  before  him. 

His  face  shone  like  a  star;  it  was  exceeding 
beauteous,  and  as  kind  as  the  even  of  May  in 
the  gardens  of  the  happy,  when  the  scent  of  the 
eglantine  fills  all  the  air.  When  he  spoke  his 
voice  was  so  sweet  that  all  hearts  were  ravished, 
and  none  might  gainsay  him. 

But  when  Hallblithe  set  eyes  on  him,  he  knew 
at  once  that  this  was  he  whose  carven  image  he 
had  seen  in  the  hall  of  the  Ravagers,  and  his  heart 
beat  fast,  and  he  said  to  himself:  "Hold  up  thine 
head  now,  O  Son  of  the  Raven,  strengthen  thine 
heart,  and  let  no  man  or  god  cow  thee.  For  how 
can  thine  heart  change,  which  bade  thee  go  to 
the  house  wherefrom  it  was  due  to  thee  to  take  the 
pleasure  of  woman,  and  there  to  pledge  thy  faith 
and  troth  to  her  that  loveth  thee  most,  and  hanker- 
cth  for  thee  day  by  day  and  hour  by  hour,  so  that 
great  is  the  love  that  we  twain  have  builded  up." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  lOI 

Now  they  drew  nigh,  for  folk  fell  back  before 
them  to  the  right  and  left,  as  before  men  who  are 
new  come  and  have  much  to  do;  so  that  there 
was  nought  between  them  and  the  face  of  the 
King.  But  he  smiled  upon  them  so  that  he 
cheered  their  hearts  with  the  hope  of  fulfilment 
of  their  desires,  and  he  said:  "Welcome,  chil- 
dren! Who  be  these  whom  ye  have  brought 
hither  for  the  increase  of  our  joy.''  Who  is  this 
tall,  ruddy-faced,  joyous  man  so  meet  for  the 
bliss  of  the  Glittering  Plain.?  And  who  is 
this  goodly  and  lovely  young  man,  who  beareth 
weapons  amidst  our  peace,  and  whose  face  is 
sad  and  stern  beneath  the  gleaming  of  his 
helm  ?  " 

Said  the  dark-haired  damsel:  "O  King!  O 
Gift-giver  and  assurer  of  joy !  this  tall  one  is  he 
who  was  once  oppressed  by  eld,  and  who  hath 
come  hither  to  thee  from  the  Isle  of  Ransom, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  land."  Said  the 
King:  "Tall  man,  it  is  well  that  thou  art  come. 
Now  are  thy  days  changed  and  thou  yet  alive. 
For  thee  battle  is  ended,  and  therewith  the  re- 
ward of  battle,  which  the  warrior  remembereth 
not  amidst  the  hard  hand-play:  peace  hath  be- 
gun, and  thou  needest  not  be  careful  for  the 
endurance  thereof:  for  in  this  land  no  man  hath 
a  lack  which  he  may  not  satisfy  without  taking 


102      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

aught  from  any  other.  I  deem  not  that  thine 
heart  may  conceive  a  desire  which  I  shall  not 
fulfil  for  thee,  or  crave  a  gift  which  I  shall  not 
give  thee." 

Then  the  Sea-eagle  laughed  for  joy,  and  turned 
his  head  this  way  and  that,  so  that  he  might  the 
better  take  to  him  the  smiles  of  all  those  that 
stood  around. 

Then  the  King  said  to  Hallblithe:  "Thou  also 
art  welcome ;  I  know  thee  who  thou  art :  me- 
seemeth  great  joy  awaiteth  thee,  and  I  will  fulfil 
thy  desire  to  the  uttermost." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "O  great  King  of  a  happy 
land,  I  ask  of  thee  nought  save  that  which  none 
shall  withhold  from  me  uncursed." 

"I  will  give  it  to  thee,"  said  the  King,  "and 
thou  shalt  bless  me.  But  what  is  it  which  thou 
wouldst.''  What  more  canst  thou  have  than  the 
Gifts  of  the  land  ?  " 

Said  Hallblithe:  "I  came  hither  seeking  no 
gifts,  but  to  have  mine  own  again;  and  that  is 
the  bodily  love  of  my  troth-plight  maiden.  They 
stole  her  from  me,  and  me  from  her;  for  she 
loved  me.  I  went  down  to  the  sea-side  and 
found  her  not,  nor  the  ship  which  had  borne  her 
away.  I  sailed  from  thence  to  the  Isle  of  Ran- 
som, for  they  told  me  that  there  I  should  buy 
her   for   a   price;    neither   was    her   body   there. 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  103 

But  her  image  came  to  me  in  a  dream  of  the 
night,  and  bade  me  seek  to  her  hither.  There- 
fore, O  King,  if  she  be  here  in  the  land,  show 
me  how  I  shall  find  her,  and  if  she  be  not  here, 
show  me  how  I  may  depart  to  seek  her  other- 
where.    This  is  all  my  asking." 

Said  the  King:  "Thy  desire  shall  be  satisfied; 
thou  shalt  have  the  woman  who  would  have  thee, 
and  whom  thou  shouldst  have." 

Hallblithe  was  gladdened  beyond  measure  by 
that  word;  and  now  did  the  King  seem  to  him 
a  comfort  and  a  solace  to  every  heart,  even  as  he 
had  deemed  of  his  carven  image  in  the  Hall  of 
the  Ravagers;  and  he  thanked  him,  and  blessed 
him. 

But  the  King  bade  him  abide  by  him  that 
night,  and  feast  with  him.  "And  on  the  mor- 
row," said  he,  "thou  shalt  go  thy  ways  to  look 
on  her  whom  thou  oughtest  to  love." 

Therewith  was  come  the  eventide  and  begin- 
ning of  night,  warm  and  fragrant  and  bright  with 
the  twinkling  of  stars,  and  they  went  into  the 
King's  pavilion,  and  there  was  the  feast  as  fair 
and  dainty  as  might  be;  and  Hallblithe  had 
meat  from  the  King's  own  dish,  and  drink  from 
his  cup ;  but  the  meat  had  no  savour  to  him  and 
the  drink  no  delight,  because  of  the  longing  that 
possessed  him. 


I04      THE   STORY   0I-'  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

And  when  the  feast  was  done,  the  damsels  led 
Hallblithe  to  his  bed  in  a  fair  tent  strewn  with 
gold  about  his  head  like  the  starry  night,  and 
he  lay  down  and  slept  for  sheer  weariness  of 
body. 


OR,  THE  LAND  OF  LIVING  MEN.  105 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HALLBLITHE  BEHOLDETH   THE  WOi\L\N  WHO 
LOVETH   HIM. 

BUT  on  the  morrow  the  men  arose,  and  the 
Sea-eagle  and  his  damsel  came  to  Hall- 
blithe  ;  for  the  other  two  damsels  were  departed, 
and  the  Sea-eagle  said  to  him:  "Here  am  I  well 
honoured  and  measurelessly  happy;  and  I  have 
a  message  for  thee  from  the  King." 

"What  is  it?  "  said  Hallblithe;  but  he  deemed 
that  he  knew  what  it  would  be,  and  he  reddened 
for  the  joy  of  his  assured  hope. 

Said  the  Sea-eagle:  "Joy  to  thee,  O  shipmate! 
I  am  to  take  thee  to  the  place  where  thy  beloved 
abideth,  and  there  shalt  thou  see  her,  but  not 
so  as  she  can  see  thee ;  and  thereafter  shalt  thou 
go  to  the  King,  that  thou  mayst  tell  him  if  she 
shall  accomplish  thy  desire." 

Then  was  Hallblithe  glad  beyond  measure,  and 
his  heart  danced  within  him,  and  he  deemed  it 
but  meet  that  the  others  should  be  so  joyous 
and   blithe   with   him,    for  they   led   him    along 


I06      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

without  any  delay,  and  were  glad  at  his  rejoic- 
ing; and  words  failed  him  to  tell  of  his  gladness. 

But  as  he  went,  the  thoughts  of  his  coming 
converse  with  his  beloved  curled  sweetly  round 
his  heart,  so  that  scarce  anything  had  seemed 
so  sweet  to  him  before;  and  he  fell  a-pondering 
what  they  twain,  he  and  the  Hostage,  should  do 
when  they  came  together  again;  whether  they 
should  abide  on  the  Glittering  Plain,  or  go  back 
again  to  Cleveland  by  the  Sea  and  dwell  in  the 
House  of  the  Kindred;  and  for  his  part  he 
yearned  to  behold  the  roof  of  his  fathers  and  to 
tread  the  meadow  which  his  scythe  had  swept, 
and  the  acres  where  his  hook  had  smitten  the 
wheat.  But  he  said  to  himself,  "I  will  wait  till 
I  hear  her  desire  hereon." 

Now  they  went  into  the  wood  at  the  back  of 
the  King's  pavilion  and  through  it,  and  so  over 
the  hill,  and  beyond  it  came  into  a  land  of  hills 
and  dales  exceeding  fair  and  lovely;  and  a  river 
wound  about  the  dales,  lapping  in  turn  the  feet 
of  one  hill-side  or  the  other;  and  in  each  dale 
(for  they  passed  through  two)  was  a  goodly  house 
of  men,  and  tillage  about  it,  and  vineyards  and 
orchards.  They  went  all  day  till  the  sun  was 
near  setting,  and  were  not  weary,  for  they  turned 
into  the  houses  by  the  way  when  they  would, 
and  had  good  v/elcome,  and  meat  and  drink,  and 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  10/ 

what  they  would  of  the  folk  that  dwelt  there. 
Thus  anigh  sunset  they  came  into  a  dale  fairer 
than  either  of  the  others,  and  nigh  to  the  end 
where  they  had  entered  it  was  an  exceeding 
goodly  house.      Then  said  the  damsel : 

"We  are  nigh-hand  to  our  journey's  end;  let 
us  sit  down  on  the  grass  by  this  river-side  whilst 
I  tell  thee  the  tale  which  the  King  would  have 
thee  know." 

So  they  sat  down  on  the  grass  beside  the  brim- 
ming river,  scant  two  bowshots  from  that  fair 
house,  and  the  damsel  said,  reading  from  a  scroll 
which  she  drew  from  her  bosom : 

"O  Spearman,  in  yonder  house  dwelleth  the 
woman  foredoomed  to  love  thee :  if  thou  wouldst 
see  her,  go  thitherward,  following  the  path  which 
turneth  from  the  river-side  by  yonder  oak-tree, 
and  thou  shalt  presently  come  to  a  thicket  of 
bay-trees  at  the  edge  of  an  apple-orchard,  whose 
trees  are  blossoming;  abide  thou  hidden  by  the 
bay-leaves,  and  thou  shalt  see  maidens  come 
into  the  orchard,  and  at  last  one  fairer  than  all 
the  others.  This  shall  be  thy  love  foredoomed, 
and  none  other;  and  thou  shalt  know  her  by 
this  token,  that  when  she  hath  set  her  down  on 
the  grass  beside  the  bay-tree,  she  shall  say  to 
her  maidens :  '  Bring  me  now  the  book  wherein 
is  the  image  of  my  beloved,  that  I  may  solace 


I08      THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

myself  with  beholding  it  before  the  sun  goes 
down  and  the  night  cometh. '  " 

Now  Hallblithe  was  troubled  when  she  read 
out  these  words,  and  he  said:  "What  is  this 
tale  about  a  book  ?  I  know  not  of  any  book  that 
lieth  betwixt  me  and  my  beloved." 

"O  Spearman,"  said  the  damsel,  "I  may  tell 
thee  no  more,  because  I  know  no  more.  But 
keep  up  thine  heart !  For  dost  thou  know  any 
more  than  I  do  what  hath  befallen  thy  beloved 
since  thou  wert  sundered  from  her.''  and  why 
should  not  this  matter  of  the  book  be  one  of 
the  things  that  hath  befallen  her.-*  Go  now  with 
joy,   and  come  again  blessing  us." 

"Yea,  go,  faring-fcllow,"  said  the  Sea-eagle, 
"and  come  back  joyful,  that  we  may  all  be  merry 
together.     And  we  will  abide  thee  here." 

Hallblithe  foreboded  evil,  but  he  held  his 
peace  and  went  his  ways  down  the  path  by  the 
oak-tree ;  and  they  abode  there  by  the  water-side, 
and  were  very  merry  talking  of  this  and  that 
(but  no  whit  of  Hallblithe),  and  kissing  and 
caressing  each  other;  so  that  it  seemed  but  a 
little  while  to  them  ere  they  saw  Hallblithe 
coming  back  by  the  oak-tree.  He  went  slowly, 
hanging  his  head  like  a  man  sore-burdened  with 
grief:  thus  he  came  up  to  them,  and  stood  there 
above   them   as  they  lay  on  the  fragrant  grass, 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  109 

and  he  saying  no  word  and  looking  so  sad  and 
sorry,  and  withal  so  fell,  that  they  feared  his 
grief  and  his  anger,  and  would  fain  have  been 
away  from  him;  so  that  they  durst  not  ask  him 
a  question  for  a  long  while,  and  the  sun  sank 
below  the  hill  while  they  abided  thus. 

Then  all  trembling  the  damsel  spake  to  the 
Sea-eagle:  "Speak  to  him,  dear  friend,  else 
must  I  flee  away,  for  I  fear  his  silence." 

Quoth  the  Sea-eagle:  "Shipmate  and  friend, 
what  hath  betided.''  How  art  thou?  May  we 
hearken,   and  mayhappen  amend  it.''" 

Then  Hallblithe  cast  himself  adown  on  the 
grass  and  said:  "I  am  accursed  and  beguiled; 
and  I  wander  round  and  round  in  a  tangle  that 
I  may  not  escape  from.  I  am  not  far  from 
deeming  that  this  is  a  land  of  dreams  made  for 
my  beguiling.  Or  has  the  earth  become  so  full  of 
lies,  that  there  is  no  room  amidst  them  for  a  true 
man  to  stand  upon  his  feet  and  go  his  ways?  " 

Said  the  Sea-eagle:  "Thou  shalt  tell  us  of 
what  hath  betid,  and  so  ease  the  sorrow  of  thy 
soul  if  thou  wilt.  Or  if  thou  wilt,  thou  shalt 
nurse  thy  sorrow  in  thine  heart  and  tell  no  man. 
Do  what  thou  wilt ;  am  I  not  become  thy  friend  ?  " 

Said  Hallblithe:  "I  will  tell  you  twain  the 
tidings,  and  thereafter  ask  me  no  more  concern- 
ing  them.     Hearken.     I  went  whereas  ye  bade 


no     THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

me,  and  hid  myself  in  the  bay-tree  thicket;  and 
there  came  maidens  into  the  blossoming  orchard 
and  made  a  resting-place  with  silken  cushions 
close  to  where  I  was  lurking,  and  stood  about 
as  though  they  were  looking  for  some  one  to 
come.  In  a  little  while  came  two  more  maidens, 
and  betwixt  them  one  so  much  fairer  than  any 
there,  that  my  heart  sank  within  me:  whereas 
I  deemed  because  of  her  fairness  that  this  would 
be  the  foredoomed  love  whereof  ye  spake,  and 
lo,  she  was  in  nought  like  to  my  troth-plight 
maiden,  save  that  she  was  exceeding  beauteous : 
nevertheless,  heart-sick  as  I  was,  I  determined 
to  abide  the  token  that  ye  told  me  of.  So  she 
lay  down  amidst  those  cushions,  and  I  beheld 
her  that  she  was  sad  of  countenance;  and  she 
was  so  near  to  me  that  I  could  see  the  tears 
welling  into  her  eyes,  and  running  down  her 
cheeks ;  so  that  I  should  have  grieved  sorely  for 
her  had  I  not  been  grieving  so  sorely  for  my- 
self. For  presently  she  sat  up  and  said :  '  O 
maiden,  bring  me  hither  the  book  wherein  is 
the  image  of  my  beloved,  that  I  may  behold  it 
in  this  season  of  sunset  wherein  I  first  beheld 
it ;  that  I  may  fill  my  heart  with  the  sight  thereof 
before  the  sun  is  gone  and  the  dark  night  come. ' 
Then  indeed  my  heart  died  within  me  when  I 
wotted  that  this  was  the  love  whereof  the  King 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  I  I  I 

spake,  that  he  would  give  to  me,  and  she  not 
mine  own  beloved,  yet  I  could  not  choose  but 
abide  and  look  on  awhile,  and  she  being  one 
that  any  man  might  love  beyond  measure.  Now 
a  maiden  went  away  into  the  house  and  came 
back  again  with  a  book  covered  with  gold  set 
with  gems;  and  the  fair  woman  took  it  and 
opened  it,  and  I  was  so  near  to  her  that  I  saw 
every  leaf  clearly  as  she  turned  the  leaves.  And 
in  that  book  were  pictures  of  many  things,  as 
flaming  mountains,  and  castles  of  war,  and  ships 
upon  the  sea,  but  chiefly  of  fair  women,  and 
queens,  and  warriors  and  kings ;  and  it  was  done 
in  gold  and  azure  and  cinnabar  and  minium. 
So  she  turned  the  leaves,  till  she  came  to  one 
whereon  was  pictured  none  other  than  myself, 
and  over  against  me  was  the  image  of  mine  own 
beloved,  the  Hostage  of  the  Rose,  as  if  she  were 
alive,  so  that  the  heart  within  me  swelled  with 
the  sobbing  which  I  must  needs  refrain,  which 
grieved  me  like  a  sword-stroke.  Shame  also 
took  hold  of  me  as  the  fair  woman  spoke  to  my 
painted  image,  and  I  lying  well-nigh  within 
touch  of  her  hand ;  but  she  said :  *  O  my  be- 
loved, why  dost  thou  delay  to  come  to  me  ?  For 
I  deemed  that  this  eve  at  least  thou  wouldst 
come,  so  many  and  strong  as  are  the  meshes  of 
love   which   we   have   cast   about   thy   feet.     Oh 


112      THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

come  to-morrow  at  the  least  and  latest,  or  what 
shall  I  do,  and  wherewith  shall  I  quench  the 
grief  of  my  heart  ?  Or  else  why  am  I  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  Undying  King,  the  Lord  of  the  Treas- 
ure of  the  Sea?  Why  have  they  wrought  new 
marvels  for  me,  and  compelled  the  Ravagers  of 
the  Coasts  to  serve  me,  and  sent  false  dreams 
flitting  on  the  wings  of  the  night?  Yea,  why 
is  the  earth  fair  and  fruitful,  and  the  heavens 
kind  above  it,  if  thou  comest  not  to-night,  nor 
to-morrow,  nor  the  day  after  ?  And  I  the  daughter 
of  the  Undying,  on  whom  the  days  shall  grow 
and  grow  as  the  grains  of  sand  which  the  wind 
heaps  up  above  the  sea-beach.  And  life  shall 
grow  huger  and  more  hideous  round  about  the 
lonely  one,  like  the  ling-worm  laid  upon  the  gold, 
that  waxeth  thereby,  till  it  lies  all  round  about 
the  house  of  the  queen  entrapped,  the  moveless 
unending  ring  of  the  years  that  change  not. '  So 
she  spake  till  the  weeping  ended  her  words,  and 
I  was  all  abashed  with  shame  and  pale  with  an- 
guish. I  stole  quietly  from  my  lair  unheeded  of 
any,  save  that  one  damsel  said  that  a  rabbit  ran 
in  the  hedge,  and  another  that  a  blackbird  stirred 
in  the  thicket.  Behold  me,  then,  that  my  quest 
beginneth  again  amidst  the  tangle  of  lies  where- 
into  I  have  been  entrapped." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  II 3 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HALLBLITHE  HAS  SPEECH  WITH  THE  KING  AGAIN. 

HE  stood  up  when  he  had  made  an  end,  as 
a  man  ready  for  the  road;  but  they  lay 
there  downcast  and  abashed,  and  had  no  words 
to  answer  him.  For  the  Sea-eagle  was  sorry 
that  his  faring-fellow  was  hapless,  and  was  sorry 
that  he  was  sorry;  and  as  for  the  damsel,  she 
had  not  known  but  that  she  was  leading  the 
goodly  Spearman  to  the  fulfilment  of  his  heart's 
desire.  Albeit  after  a  while  she  spake  again  and 
said:  "Dear  friends,  day  is  gone  and  night  is  at 
hand;  now  to-night  it  were  ill  lodging  at  yon- 
der house;  and  the  next  house  on  our  backward 
road  is  over  far  for  wayworn  folk.  But  hard  by 
through  the  thicket  is  a  fair  little  wood-lawn, 
by  the  lip  of  a  pool  in  the  stream  wherein  we 
may  bathe  us  to-morrow  morning;  and  it  is  grassy 
and  flowery  and  sheltered  from  all  winds  that 
blow,  and  I  have  victual  enough  in  my  wallet. 
Let  us  sup  and  rest  there  under  the  bare  heaven, 
as  oft  is  the  wont  of  us  in  this  land;  and   on 

8 


114      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  morrow  early  we  will  arise  and  get  us  back 
again  to  Wood-end,  where  yet  the  King  abid- 
eth,  and  there  shalt  thou  talk  to  him  again,  O 
Spearman." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "Take  me  whither  ye  will; 
but  now  nought  availeth.  I  am  a  captive  in  a 
land  of  lies,  and  here  most  like  shall  I  live  be- 
trayed and  die  hapless."  "Hold  thy  peace,  dear 
friend,  of  such  words  as  those  last,"  said  she, 
"  or  I  must  needs  flee  from  thee,  for  they  hurt 
me  sorely.      Come  now  to  this  pleasant  place." 

She  took  him  by  the  hand  and  looked  kindly 
on  him,  and  the  Sea-eagle  followed  him,  mur- 
muring an  old  song  of  the  harvest-field,  and  they 
went  together  by  a  path  through  a  thicket  of 
whitethorn  till  they  came  unto  a  grassy  place. 
There  then  they  sat  them  down,  and  ate  and 
drank  what  they  would,  sitting  by  the  lip  of  the 
pool  till  a  waning  moon  was  bright  over  their 
heads.  And  Hallblithe  made  no  semblance  of 
content;  but  the  Sea-eagle  and  his  damsel  were 
grown  merry  again,  and  talked  and  sang  together 
like  autumn  stares,  with  the  kissing  and  caress- 
ing of  lovers. 

So  at  last  those  twain  lay  down  amongst  the 
flowers,  and  slept  in  each  other's  arms;  but  Hall- 
blithe betook  him  to  the  brake  a  little  aloof,  and 
lay  down,  but  slept  not  till  morning  was  at  hand. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  II 5 

when    slumber    and    confused    dreams    overtook 
him. 

'  He  was  awaked  from  his  sleep  by  the  dam- 
sel, who  came  pushing  through  the  thicket  all 
fresh  and  rosy  from  the  river,  and  roused  him, 
and  said :  * '  Awake  now.  Spearman,  that  we  may 
take  our  pleasure  in  the  sun;  for  he  is  high  in 
the  heavens  now,  and  all  the  land  laughs  beneath 
him." 

Her  eyes  glittered  as  she  spoke,  and  her  limbs 
moved  under  her  raiment  as  though  she  would 
presently  fall  to  dancing  for  very  joy.  But  Hall- 
blithe  arose  wearily,  and  gave  her  back  no  smile 
in  answer,  but  thrust  through  the  thicket  to  the 
water,  and  washed  the  night  from  off  him,  and 
so  came  back  to  the  twain  as  they  sat  dallying 
together  over  their  breakfast.  He  would  not 
sit  down  by  them,  but  ate  a  morsel  of  bread  as 
he  stood,  and  said:  "Tell  me  how  I  can  soonest 
find  the  King:  I  bid  you  not  lead  me  thither, 
but  let  me  go  my  ways  alone.  For  with  me 
time  presses,  and  with  you  meseemeth  time  is 
nought.  Neither  am  I  a  meet  fellow  for  the 
happy." 

But  the  Sea-eagle  sprang  up,  and  swore  with 
a  great  oath  that  he  would  no  wise  leave  his  ship- 
mate in  the  lurch.  And  the  damsel  said:  "Fair 
man,  I  had  best  go  with  thee;  I  shall  not  hinder 


Il6      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

thee,  but  further  thee  rather,  so  that  thou  shalt 
make  one  day's  journey  of  two." 

And  she  put  forth  her  hand  to  him,  and 
caressed  him  smiling,  and  fawned  upon  him, 
and  he  heeded  it  little,  but  hung  not  aback  from 
them  since  they  were  ready  for  the  road :  so 
they  set  forth  all  three  together. 

They  made  such  diligence  on  the  backward 
road  that  the  sun  was  not  set  by  then  they  came 
to  Wood-end;  and  there  was  the  King  sitting 
in  the  door  of  his  pavilion.  Thither  went  Hall- 
blithe  straight,  and  thrust  through  the  throng, 
and  stood  before  the  King;  who  greeted  him 
kindly,  and  was  no  less  sweet  of  face  than  on 
that  other  day. 

Hallblithe  hailed  him  not,  but  said:  "King, 
look  on  my  anguish,  and  if  thou  art  other  than 
a  king  of  dreams  and  lies,  play  no  longer  with 
me,  but  tell  me  straight  out  if  thou  knowest  of 
my  troth-plight  maiden,  whether  she  is  in  this 
land  or  not." 

Then  the  King  smiled  on  him  and  said:  "True 
it  is  that  I  know  of  her;  yet  know  I  not  whether 
she  is  in  this  land  or  not." 

"King,"  said  Hallblithe,  "wilt  thou  bring  us 
together  and  stay  my  heart's  bleeding.-'" 

Said  the  King:  "I  cannot,  since  I  know  not 
where  she  is." 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF  LIVING   MEN.  I17 

"Why  didst  thou  lie  to  me  the  other  day?" 
said  Hallblithe. 

"I  lied  not,"  said  the  King;  "I  bade  bring 
thee  to  the  woman  that  loved  thee,  and  whom 
thou  shouldst  love;  and  that  is  my  daughter. 
And  look  thou !  Even  as  I  may  not  bring  thee 
to  thine  earthly  love,  so  couldst  thou  not  make 
thyself  manifest  before  my  daughter,  and  become 
her  deathless  love.      Is  it  not  enough .-'  " 

He  spake  sternly  for  all  that  he  smiled,  and 
Hallblithe  said:   "O  King,  have  pity  on  me!" 

"Yea,"  said  the  King;  "pity  thee  I  do:  but 
I  will  live  despite  thy  sorrow;  my  pity  of  thee 
shall  not  slay  me,  or  make  thee  happy.  Even 
in  such  wise  didst  thou  pity  my  daughter." 

Said  Hallbithe:  "Thou  art  mighty,  O  King, 
and  maybe  the  mightiest.  Wilt  thou  not  help 
me?" 

"  How  can  I  help  thee  ?  "  said  the  King,  "  thou 
who  wilt  not  help  thyself.  Thou  hast  seen  what 
thou  shouldst  do:  do  it  then  and  be  holpen." 

Then  said  Hallblithe:  "Wilt  thou  not  slay 
me,  O  King,  since  thou  wilt  not  do  aught  else } " 

"Nay,"  said  the  King,  "thy  slaying  wilt  not 
serve  me  nor  mine:  I  will  neither  help  nor  hin- 
der. Thou  art  free  to  seek  thy  love  wheresoever 
thou  wilt  in  this  my  realm.     Depart  in  peace !  " 

Hallblithe  saw  that  the  King  was  angry,  tho' 


Il8      THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

he  smiled  upon  him;  yet  so  coldly,  that  the  face 
of  him  froze  the  very  marrow  of  Hallblithe's 
bones:  and  he  said  within  himself:  "This  King 
of  lies  shall  not  slay  me,  though  mine  anguish 
be  hard  to  bear:  for  I  am  alive,  and  it  may  be 
that  my  love  is  in  this  land,  and  I  may  find  her 
here,  and  how  to  reach  another  land  I  know 
not."  So  he  turned  from  before  the  face  of  the 
King  as  the  sun  was  setting,  and  he  went  down 
the  land  southward  betwixt  the  mountains  and 
the  sea,  not  heeding  whether  it  were  night  or 
day;  and  he  went  on  till  it  was  long  past  mid- 
night, and  then  for  mere  weariness  laid  him 
down  under  a  tree,  not  knowing  where  he  was, 
and  fell  asleep. 

And  in  the  morning  he  woke  up  to  the  bright 
sun,  and  found  folk  standing  round  about  him, 
both  men  and  women,  and  their  sheep  were  anigh 
them,  for  they  were  shepherd  folk.  So  when 
they  saw  that  he  was  awake,  they  greeted  him, 
and  were  blithe  with  him  and  made  much  of 
him;  and  they  took  him  home  to  their  house, 
and  gave  him  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  asked 
him  what  he  would  that  they  might  serve  him. 
And  they  seemed  to  him  to  be  kind  and  simple 
folk,  and  though  he  loathed  to  speak  the  words, 
so  sick  at  heart  he  was,  yet  he  told  them  how 
he    was    seeking    his    troth-plight    maiden,    his 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  IIQ 

earthly  love,  and  asked  them  to  say  if  they  had 
seen  any  woman  like  her. 

They  heard  him  kindly  and  pitied  him,  and 
told  him  how  they  had  heard  of  a  woman  in  the 
land,  who  sought  her  beloved  even  as  he  sought 
his.  And  when  he  heard  that,  his  heart  leapt 
up,  and  he  asked  them  to  tell  him  more  con- 
cerning this  woman.  Then  they  said  that  she 
dwelt  in  the  hill-country  in  a  goodly  house,  and 
had  set  her  heart  on  a  lovely  man,  whose  image 
she  had  seen  in  a  book,  and  that  no  man  but 
this  one  would  content  her;  and  this,  they  said, 
was  a  sad  and  sorry  matter,  such  as  was  unheard 
of  hitherto  in  the  land. 

So  when  Hallblithe  heard  this,  as  heavily  as 
his  heart  fell  again,  he  changed  not  countenance, 
but  thanked  the  kind  folk  and  departed,  and 
went  on  down  the  land  betwixt  the  mountains 
and  the  sea,  and  before  nightfall  he  had  been 
into  three  more  houses  of  folk,  and  asked  there 
of  all  comers  concerning  a  woman  who  was  sun- 
dered from  her  beloved;  and  at  none  of  them 
gat  he  any  answer  to  make  him  less  sorry  than 
yesterday.  At  the  last  of  the  three  he  slept, 
and  on  the  morrow  early  there  was  the  work  to 
begin  again ;  and  the  next  day  was  the  same  as 
the  last,  and  the  day  after  differed  not  from  it. 
Thus   he  went  on  seeking  his   beloved   betwixt 


120      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  mountains  and  the  plain,  till  the  great  rock 
wall  came  down  to  the  side  of  the  sea  and  made 
an  end  of  the  Glittering  Plain  on  that  side. 
Then  he  turned  about  and  went  back  by  the  way 
that  he  had  come,  and  up  the  country  betwixt 
the  mountains  and  the  plain  northward,  until  he 
had  been  into  every  house  of  folk  in  those  parts 
and  asked  his  question. 

Then  he  went  up  into  that  fair  country  of  the 
dales,  and  even  anigh  to  where  dwelt  the  King's 
Daughter,  and  otherwhere  in  the  land  and  every- 
where, quartering  the  realm  of  the  Glittering 
Plain  as  the  heron  quarters  the .  flooded  meadow 
when  the  waters  draw  aback  into  the  river.  So 
that  now  all  people  knew  him  when  he  came, 
and  they  wondered  at  him ;  but  when  he  came 
to  any  house  for  the  third  or  fourth  time,  they 
wearied  of  him,  and  were  glad  when  he  departed. 

Ever  it  was  one  of  two  answers  that  he  had : 
either  folk  said  to  him,  "There  is  no  such 
woman;  this  land  is  happy,  and  nought  but 
happy  people  dwell  herein;"  or  else  they  told 
him  of  the  woman  who  lived  in  sorrow,  and  was 
ever  looking  on  a  book,  that  she  might  bring 
to  her  the  man  whom  she  desired. 

Whiles  he  wearied  and  longed  for  death,  but 
would  not  die  until  there  was  no  corner  of  the 
land   unsearched.      Whiles   he   shook   off  weari- 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  121 

ness,  and  went  about  his  quest  as  a  craftsman 
sets  about  his  work  in  the  morning.  Whiles  it 
irked  him  to  see  the  soft  and  merry  folk  of  the 
land,  who  had  no  skill  to  help  him,  and  he 
longed  for  the  house  of  his  fathers  and  the  men 
of  the  spear  and  the  plough;  and  thought,  "Oh, 
if  I  might  but  get  me  back,  if  it  were  but  for  an 
hour  and  to  die  there,  to  the  meadows  of  the 
Raven,  and  the  acres  beneath  the  mountains  of 
Cleveland  by  the  Sea.  Then  at  least  should  I 
learn  some  tale  of  what  is  or  what  hath  been, 
howsoever  evil  the  tidings  were,  and  not  be 
bandied  about  by  lies  for  ever." 


122      THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 


CHAPTER   XV. 

YET   HALLBLITHE  SPEAKETH   WITH   THE   KING. 

SO  wore  the  days  and  the  moons;  and  now 
were  some]  six  moons  worn  since  first  he 
came  to  the  Glittering  Plain ;  and  he  was  come  to 
Wood-end  again,  and  heard  and  knew  that  the 
King  was  sitting  once  more  in  the  door  of  his 
pavilion  to  hearken  to  the  words  of  his  people, 
and  he  said  to  himself:  "I  will  speak  yet  again 
to  this  man,  if  indeed  he  be  a  man;  yea,  though 
he  turn  me  into  stone." 

And  he  went  up  toward  the  pavilion;  and  on 
the  way  it  came  into  his  mind  what  the  men  of 
the  kindred  were  doing  that  morning;  and  he  had 
a  vision  of  them  as  it  were,  and  saw  them  yoking 
the  oxen  to  the  plough,  and  slowly  going  down 
the  acres,  as  the  shining  iron  drew  the  long 
furrow  down  the  stubble-land,  and  the  light  haze 
hung  about  the  elm-trees  in  the  calm  morning, 
and  the  smoke  rose  straight  into  the  air  from 
the  roof  of  the  kindred.  And  he  said:  "What 
is  this.-*  am  I  death-doomed  this  morning  that  this 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  123 

sight  Cometh  so  clearly  upon  me  amidst  the  false- 
ness of  this  unchanging  land  ?  " 

Thus  he  came  to  the  pavilion,  and  folk  fell 
back  before  him  to  the  right  and  the  left,  and 
he  stood  before  the  King,  and  said  to  him:  "I 
cannot  find  her;  she  is  not  in  thy  land." 

Then  spake  the  King,  smiling  upon  him,  as 
erst:  "  What  wilt  thou  then?  Is  it  not  time  to 
rest  ?  " 

He  said:  "Yea,  O  King;  but  not  in  this  land." 

Said  the  King:  "Where  else  than  in  this  land 
wilt  thou  find  rest.-*  Without  is  battle  and  fam- 
ine, longing  unsatisfied,  and  heart-burning  and 
fear;  within  it  is  plenty  and  peace  and  good  will 
and  pleasure  without  cease.  Thy  word  hath  no 
meaning  to  me." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "Give  me  leave  to  depart, 
and  I   will  bless  thee." 

"  Is  there  nought  else  to  do.^  "  said  the  King. 

"  Nought  else,"  said  Hallblithe. 

Therewith  he  felt  that  the  King's  face  changed 
though  he  still  smiled  on  him,  and  again  he  felt 
his  heart  grow  cold  before  the  King. 

But  the  King  spake  and  said:  "I  hinder  not 
thy  departure,  nor  will  any  of  my  folk.  No  hand 
will  be  raised  against  thee;  there  is  no  weapon 
in  all  the  land,  save  the  deedless  sword  by  my 
side  and  the  weapons  which  thou  bearest. "     Said 


124      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Hallblithe:  "Dost  thou  not  owe  me  a  joy  in 
return  for  my  beguiling?  " 

"Yea,"  said  the  King,  "reach  out  thine  hand 
to  take  it." 

"One  thing  only  may  I  take  of  thee,"  said 
Hallblithe;  "my  troth-plight  maiden  or  else  the 
speeding  of  my  departure." 

Then  said  the  King,  and  his  voice  was  terrible 
though  yet  he  smiled:  "I  will  not  hinder;  I  will 
not  help.     Depart  in  peace !  " 

Then  Hallblithe  turned  away  dizzy  and  half- 
fainting,  and  strayed  down  the  field,  scarce  know- 
ing where  he  was;  and  as  he  went  he  felt  his 
sleeve  plucked  at,  and  turned  about,  and  lo !  he 
was  face  to  face  with  the  Sea-eagle,  no  less 
joyous  than  aforetime.  He  took  Hallblithe  in 
his  arms  and  embraced  him  and  kissed  him,  and 
said :  "Well  met  faring-f  ellow !    Whither  away.^  " 

"Away  out  of  this  land  of  lies,"  said  Hallblithe. 

The  Sea-eagle  shook  his  head,  and  quoth  he : 
"Art  thou  still  seeking  a  dream .-^  And  thou  so 
fair  that  thou  puttest  all  other  men  to  shame." 

"I  seek  no  dream,"  said  Hallblithe,  "but 
rather  the  end  of  dreams." 

"Well,"  said  the  Sea-eagle,  "we  will  not 
wrangle  about  it.  But  hearken.  Hard  by  in  a 
pleasant  nook  of  the  meadows  have  I  set  up  my 
tent;  and  although  it  be  not  as  big  as  the  King's 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  125 

pavilion,  yet  is  it  fair  enough.  Wilt  thou  not 
come  thither  with  me  and  rest  thee  to-night; 
and  to-morrow  we  will  talk  of  this  matter?" 

Now  Hallblithe  was  weary  and  confused,  and 
down-hearted  beyond  his  wont,  and  the  friendly 
words  of  the  Sea-eagle  softened  his  heart,  and 
he  smiled  on  him  and  said:  "I  give  thee  thanks; 
I  will  come  with  thee:  thou  art  kind,  and  hast 
done  nought  to  me  save  good  from  the  time 
when  I  first  saw  thee  lying  in  thy  bed  in  the 
Hall  of  the  Ravagers.  Dost  thou  remember  the 
day  ? " 

The  Sea-eagle  knitted  his  brow  as  one  striv- 
ing with  a  troublous  memory,  and  said:  "But 
dimly,  friend,  as  if  it  had  passed  in  an  ugly 
dream :  meseemeth  my  friendship  with  thee  be- 
gan when  I  came  to  thee  from  out  of  the  wood, 
and  saw  thee  standing  with  those  three  dam- 
sels; that  I  remember  full  well:  ye  were  fair  to 
look  on." 

Hallblithe  wondered  at  his  words,  but  said  no 
more  about  it,  and  they  went  together  to  a  flowery 
nook  nigh  a  stream  of  clear  water  where  stood  a 
silken  tent,  green  like  the  grass  which  it  stood 
on,  and  flecked  with  gold  and  goodly  colours. 
Nigh  it  on  the  grass  lay  the  Sea-eagle's  damsel, 
ruddy-cheeked  and  sweet-lipped,  as  fair  as  afore- 
time.    She   turned   about  when   she   heard   men 


126     THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

coming,  and  when  she  saw  Hallblithe  a  smile 
came  into  her  face  like  the  sun  breaking  out  on 
a  fair  but  clouded  morning,  and  she  went  up  to 
him  and  took  him  by  the  hands  and  kissed  his 
cheek,  and  said:  "Welcome,  Spearman!  welcome 
back!  We  have  heard  of  thee  in  many  places, 
and  have  been  sorry  that  thou  wert  not  glad, 
and  now  are  we  fain  of  thy  returning.  Shall  not 
sweet  life  begin  for  thee  from  henceforward?" 

Again  was  Hallblithe  moved  by  her  kind  wel- 
come; but  he  shook  his  head  and  spake:  "Thou 
art  kind,  sister;  yet  if  thou  wouldst  be  kinder 
thou  wilt  show  me  a  way  whereby  I  may  escape 
from  this  land.  For  abiding  here  has  become 
irksome  to  me,  and  meseemeth  that  hope  is  yet 
alive  without  the  Glittering  Plain."  Her  face 
fell  as  she  answered:  "Yea,  and  fear  also,  and 
worse,  if  aught  be  worse.  But  come,  let  us'  eat 
and  drink  in  this  fair  place,  and  gather  for  thee 
a  little  joyance  before  thou  departest,  if  thou 
needs  must  depart." 

He  smiled  on  her  as  one  not  ill-content,  and 
laid  himself  down  on  the  grass,  while  the  twain 
busied  themselves,  and  brought  forth  fair  cush- 
ions and  a  gilded  table,  and  laid  dainty  victual 
thereon  and  good  wine. 

So  they  ate  and  drank  together,  and  the  Sea- 
eagle  and   his   mate  became  very  joyous  again, 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  12/ 

and  Hallblithe  bestirred  himself  not  to  be  a  mar- 
feast;  for  he  said  within  himself:  "I  am  depart- 
ing, and  after  this  time  I  shall  see  them  no  more; 
and  they  are  kind  and  blithe  with  me,  and  have 
been  aforetime;  I  will  not  make  their  merry- 
hearts  sore.  For  when  I  am  gone  I  shall  be 
remembered  of  them  but  a  little  while." 


128      THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THOSE  THREE  GO  THEIR  WAYS  TO  THE  EDGE 
OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN. 

SO  the  evening  wore  merrily;  and  they  made 
Hallblithe  lie  in  an  ingle  of  the  tent  on 
a  fair  bed,  and  he  was  weary,  and  slept  thereon 
like  a  child.  But  in  the  morning  early  they 
waked  him;  and  while  they  were  breaking  their 
fast  they  began  to  speak  to  him  of  his  departure, 
and  asked  him  if  he  had  an  inkling  of  the  way 
whereby  he  should  get  him  gone,  and  he  said : 
"If  I  escape  it  must  needs  be  by  way  of  the 
mountains  that  wall  the  land  about  till  they  come 
down  to  the  sea.  For  on  the  sea  is  no  ship  and 
no  haven ;  and  well  I  wot  that  no  man  of  the  land 
durst  or  can  ferry  me  over  to  the  land  of  my  kin- 
dred, or  otherwhere  without  the  Glittering  Plain. 
Tell  me  therefore  (and  I  ask  no  more  of  you),  is 
there  any  rumour  or  memory  of  a  way  that  cleav- 
eth  yonder  mighty  wall  of  rock  to  other  lands .-'" 

Said  the  damsel:   "There  is  more  than  a  mem- 
ory  or  a  rumour:    there    is  a  road   through   the 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 29 

mountains  known  to  all  men.  For  at  whiles 
the  earthly  pilgrims  come  into  the  Glittering 
Plain  thereby ;  and  yet  but  seldom,  so  many  are 
the  griefs  and  perils  which  beset  the  wayfarers 
on  that  road.  Whereof  thou  hadst  far  better 
bethink  thee  in  time,  and  abide  here  and  be 
happy  with  us  and  others  who  long  sore  to  make 
thee  happy." 

"Nay,"  said  Hallblithe,  "there  is  nought  to 
do  but  tell  me  of  the  way,  and  I  will  depart  at 
once,  blessing  you." 

Said  the  Sea-eagle:  "More  than  that  at  least 
will  we  do.  May  I  lose  the  bliss  whereto  I  have 
attained,  if  I  go  not  with  thee  to  the  very  edge 
of  the  land  of  the  Glittering  Plain.  Shall  it  not 
be  so,  sweetheart  ?  " 

"Yea,  at  least  we  may  do  that,"  said  the 
damsel;  and  she  hung  her  head  as  if  she  were 
ashamed,  and  said:  "And  that  is  all  that  thou 
wilt  get  from  us  at  most." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "It  is  enough,  and  I  asked 
not  so  much." 

Then  the  damsel  busied  herself,  and  set  meat 
and  drink  in  two  wallets,  and  took  one  herself 
and  gave  the  other  to  the  Sea-eagle,  and  said : 
"We  will  be  thy  porters,  O  Spearman,  and  will 
give  thee  a  full  wallet  from  the  last  house  by 
the  Desert  of  Dread,  for  when  thou  hast  entered 

9 


130      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING    PLAIN; 

therein,  thou  mayst  well  find  victual  hard  to 
come  by:  and  now  let  us  linger  no  more  since 
the  road  is  dear  to  thee." 

So  they  set  forth  on  foot,  for  in  that  land  men 
were  slow  to  feel  weariness;  and  turning  about 
the  hill  of  Wood-end,  they  passed  by  some  broken 
country,  and  came  at  even  to  a  house  at  the  en- 
trance of  a  long  valley,  with  high  and  steeply- 
sloping  sides,  which  seemed,  as  it  were,  to  cleave 
the  dale  country  wherein  they  had  fared  afore- 
time. At  that  house  they  slept  well-guested  by 
its  folk,  and  the  next  morning  took  their  way 
down  the  valley,  and  the  folk  of  the  house  stood 
at  the  door  to  watch  their  departure;  for  they 
had  told  the  wayfarers  that  they  had  fared  but 
a  little  way  thitherward  and  knew  of  no  folk  who 
had  used  that  road. 

So  those  three  fared  down  the  valley  south- 
ward all  day,  ever  mounting  higher  as  they  went. 
The  way  was  pleasant  and  easy,  for  they  went 
over  fair,  smooth,  grassy  lawns  betwixt  the  hill- 
sides, beside  a  clear  rattling  stream  that  ran 
northward ;  at  whiles  were  clumps  of  tall  trees, 
oak  for  the  most  part,  and  at  whiles  thickets  of 
thorn  and  eglantine  and  other  such  trees :  so  that 
they  could  rest  well  shaded  when  they  would. 

They  passed  by  no  house  of  men,  nor  came  to 
any  such   in  the  even,  but  lay  down  to  sleep  in 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF  LIVING  MEN.  131 

a  thicket  of  thorn  and  eglantine,  and  rested  well, 
and  on  the  morrow  they  rose  up  betimes  and 
went  on  their  ways. 

This  second  day  as  they  went,  the  hill-sides 
on  either  hand  grew  lower,  till  at  last  they  died 
out  into  a  wide  plain,  beyond  which  in  the  south- 
ern offing  the  mountains  rose  huge  and  bare. 
This  plain  also  was  grassy  and  beset  with  trees 
and  thickets  here  and  there.  Hereon  they  saw 
wild  deer  enough,  as  hart  and  buck,  and  roebuck 
and  swine:  withal  a  lion  came  out  of  a  brake  hard 
by  them  as  they  went,  and  stood  gazing  on  them, 
so  that  Hallblithe  looked  to  his  weapons,  and  the 
Sea-eagle  took  up  a  big  stone  to  fight  with,  being 
weaponless ;  but  the  damsel  laughed,  and  tripped 
on  her  way  lightly  with  girt-up  gown,  and  the 
beast  gave  no  more  heed  to  them. 

Easy  and  smooth  was  their  way  over  this  pleas- 
ant wilderness,  and  clear  to  see,  though  but  little 
used,  and  before  nightfall,  after  they  had  gone 
a  long  way,  they  came  to  a  house.  It  was  not 
large  nor  high,  but  was  built  very  strongly  and 
fairly  of  good  ashlar :  its  door  was  shut,  and  on 
the  jamb  thereof  hung  a  slug-horn.  The  dam- 
sel, who  seemed  to  know  what  to  do,  set  her 
mouth  to  the  horn,  and  blew  a  blast;  and  in  a 
little  while  the  door  was  opened,  and  a  big  man 
clad    in   red   scarlet    stood   therein:    he   had   no 


132      THE   STORY  OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

weapons,  but  was  somewhat  surly  of  aspect :  he 
spake  not,  but  stood  abiding  the  word  :  so  the  dam- 
sel took  it  up  and  said  :  "Art  thou  not  the  Warden 
of  the  Uttermost  House?  "     He  said:  "I  am." 

Said  the  damsel:  "May  we  guest  here  to- 
night?" 

He  said:  "The  house  lieth  open  to  you  with 
all  that  it  hath  of  victual  and  plenishing:  take 
what  ye  will,  and  use  what  ye  will." 

They  thanked  him;  but  he  heeded  not  their 
thanks,  and  withdrew  him  from  them.  So  they 
entered  and  found  the  table  laid  in  a  fair  hall  of 
stone  carven  and  painted  very  goodly ;  so  they  ate 
and  drank  therein,  and  Hallblithe  was  of  good 
heart,  and  the  Sea-eagle  and  his  mate  were  merry, 
though  they  looked  softly  and  shyly  on  Hall- 
blithe  because  of  the  sundering  anigh;  and  they 
saw  no  man  in  the  house  save  the  man  in  scarlet, 
who  went  and  came  about  his  business,  paying 
no  heed  to  them.  So  when  the  night  was  deep 
they  lay  down  in  the  shut-bed  off  the  hall,  and 
slept,  and  the  hours  were  tidingless  to  them  until 
they  woke  in  the  morning. 

On  the  morrow  they  arose  and  broke  their  fast, 
and  thereafter  the  damsel  spake  to  the  man  in 
scarlet  and  said:  "May  we  fill  our  wallets  with 
the  victual  for  the  way?" 

Said  the  Warden:  "There  lieth  the  meat." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 33 

So  they  filled  their  wallets,  while  the  man 
looked  on ;  and  they  came  to  the  door  when  they 
were  ready,  and  he  unlocked  it  to  them,  saying 
no  word.  But  when  they  turned  their  faces  to- 
wards the  mountains  he  spake  at  last,  and  stayed 
them  at  the  first  step.  Quoth  he:  "Whither 
away.?     Ye  take  the  wrong  road!" 

Said  Hallblithe:  "Nay,  for  we  go  toward  the 
mountains  and  the  edge  of  the  Glittering  Plain." 

"Ye  shall  do  ill  to  go  thither,"  said  the  War- 
den, "and  I  bid  you  forbear." 

"  O  Warden  of  the  Uttermost  House,  where- 
fore should  we  forbear  .-*"  said  the  Sea-eagle. 

Said  the  scarlet  man:  "Because  my  charge  is 
to  further  those  who  go  inward  to  the  King,  and  to 
stay  those  who  would  go  outward  fro  n  the  King. " 

"How  then  if  we  go  outward  despite  thy  bid- 
ding?" said  the  Sea-eagle,  "wilt  thou  then 
hinder  us  perforce .-'" 

"  How  may  I,"  said  the  man,  "  since  thy  fellow 
hath  weapons .''  " 

"  Go  we  forth,  then,"  said  the  Sea-eagle. 

"Yea,"  said  the  damsel,  "we  will  go  forth. 
And  know,  O  Warden,  that  this  weaponed  man 
only  is  of  mind  to  fare  over  the  edge  of  the  Glit- 
tering Plain ;  but  we  twain  shall  come  back  hither 
again,  and  fare  inwards." 

Said  the  Warden :  * '  Nought  is  it  to  me  what 


134     THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

ye  will  do  when  you  are  past  this  house.  Nor 
shall  any  man  who  goeth  out  of  this  garth  toward 
the  mountains  ever  come  back  inwards  save  he 
Cometh  in  the  company  of  new  comers  to  the 
Glittering  Plain." 

"Who  shall  hinder  him.^*,"  said  the  Sea-eagle. 

"The  KING,"  said  the  Warden. 

Then  there  was  silence  awhile,  and  the  man 
said:  "Now  do  as  ye  will."  And  therewith  he 
turned  back  into  the  house  and  shut  the  door. 

But  the  Sea-eagle  and  the  damsel  stood  gazing 
on  one  another,  and  at  Hallblithe;  and  the  dam- 
sel was  downcast  and  pale;  but  the  Sea-eagle 
cried  out:  "Forward  now,  O  Hallblithe,  since 
thou  wiliest  it,  and  we  will  go  with  thee  and 
share  whatever  may  befall  thee ;  yea,  right  up  to 
the  very  edge  of  the  Glittering  Plain.  And  thou, 
O  beloved,  why  dost  thou  delay .-'  Why  dost  thou 
stand  as  if  thy  fair  feet  were  grown  to  the  grass .-'  " 

But  the  damsel  gave  a  lamentable  cry,  and 
cast  herself  down  on  the  ground,  and  knelt  be- 
fore the  Sea-eagle,  and  took  him  by  the  knees, 
and  said  betwixt  sobbing  and  weeping:  "O  my 
lord  and  love,  I  pray  thee  to  forbear,  and  the 
Spearman,  our  friend,  shall  pardon  us.  For  if 
thou  gocst,  I  shall  never  see  thee  more,  since 
my  heart  will  not  serve  me  to  go  with  thee.  O 
forbear !    I  pray  thee !  ' ' 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  135 

And  she  grovelled  on  the  earth  before  him; 
and  the  Sea-eagle  waxed  red,  and  would  have 
spoken;  but  Hallblithe  cut  his  speech  across, 
and  said:  "Friends,  be  at  peace!  For  this  is 
the  minute  that  sunders  us.  Get  ye  back  at 
once  to  the  heart  of  the  Glittering  Plain,  and 
live  there  and  be  happy;  and  take  my  blessing 
and  thanks  for  the  love  and  help  that  ye  have 
given  me.  For  your  going  forward  with  me 
should  destroy  you  and  profit  me  nothing.  It 
would  be  but  as  the  host  bringing  his  guests 
one  field  beyond  his  garth,  when  their  goal  is 
the  ends  of  the  earth;  and  if  there  were  a  lion 
in  the  path,  why  should  he  perish  for  courtesy's 
sake.?" 

Therewith  he  stooped  down  to  the  damsel,  and 
lifted  her  up  and  kissed  her  face;  and  he  cast 
his  arms  about  the  Sea-eagle  and  said  to  him : 
"  Farewell,  shipmate!  " 

Then  the  damsel  gave  him  the  wallet  of  victual, 
and  bade  him  farewell,  weeping  sorely;  and  he 
looked  kindly  on  them  for  a  moment  of  time,  and 
then  turned  away  from  them  and  fared  on  toward 
the  mountains,  striding  with  great  strides,  hold- 
ing his  head  aloft.  But  they  looked  no  more  on 
him,  having  no  will  to  eke  their  sorrow,  but  went 
their  ways  back  again  without  delay. 


136      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HALLBLITHE  AMONGST  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

SO  strode  on  Hallblithe;  but  when  he  had 
gone  but  a  little  way  his  head  turned,  and 
the  earth  and  heavens  wavered  before  him,  so 
that  he  must  needs  sit  down  on  a  stone  by  the 
wayside,  wondering  what  ailed  him.  Then  he 
looked  up  at  the  mountains,  which  now  seemed 
quite  near  to  him  at  the  plain's  ending,  and  his 
weakness  increased  on  him ;  and  lo !  as  he  looked, 
it  was  to  him  as  if  the  crags  rose  up  in  the  sky 
to  meet  him  and  overhang  him,  and  as  if  the 
earth  heaved  up  beneath  him,  and  therewith  he 
fell  aback  and  lost  all  sense,  so  that  he  knew 
not  what  was  become  of  the  earth  and  the  heavens 
and  the  passing  of  the  minutes  of  his  life. 

When  he  came  to  himself  he  knew  not  whether 
he  had  lain  so  a  great  while  or  a  little;  he  felt 
feeble,  and  for  a  while  he  lay  scarce  moving, 
and  beholding  nought,  not  even  the  sky  above 
him.  Presently  he  turned  about  and  saw  hard 
stone  on  either  side,  so  he  rose  wearily  and  stood 


OR,  THE  LAND  OF  LIVING  MEN.  1 37 

upon  his  feet,  and  knew  that  he  was  faint  with 
hunger  and  thirst.  Then  he  looked  around  him, 
and  saw  that  he  was  in  a  narrow  valley  or  cleft 
of  the  mountains  amidst  wan  rocks,  bare  and 
waterless,  where  grew  no  blade  of  green;  but 
he  could  see  no  further  than  the  sides  of  that 
cleft,  and  he  longed  to  be  out  of  it  that  he  might 
see  whitherward  to  turn.  Then  he  bethought 
him  of  his  wallet,  and  set  his  hand  to  it  and 
opened  it,  thinking  to  get  victual  thence;  but 
lo !  it  was  all  spoilt  and  wasted.  None  the  less, 
for  all  his  feebleness,  he  turned  and  went  toiling 
slowly  along  what  seemed  to  be  a  path  little 
trodden  leading  upward  out  of  the  cleft;  and  at 
last  he  reached  the  crest  thereof,  and  sat  him 
down  on  a  rock  on  the  other  side ;  yet  durst  not 
raise  his  eyes  awhile  and  look  on  the  land,  lest 
he  should  see  death  manifest  therein.  At  last 
he  looked,  and  saw  that  he  was  high  up  amongst 
the  mountain-peaks :  before  him  and  on  either 
hand  was  but  a  world  of  fallow  stone  rising  ridge 
upon  ridge  like  the  waves  of  the  wildest  of  the 
winter  sea.  The  sun  not  far  from  its  midmost 
shone  down  bright  and  hot  on  that  wilderness; 
yet  was  there  no  sign  that  any  man  had  ever 
been  there  since  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
save  that  the  path  aforesaid  seemed  to  lead 
onward  down  the   stony  slope. 


138      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

This  way  and  that  way  and  all  about  he  gazed, 
straining  his  eyes  if  perchance  he  might  see  any 
diversity  in  the  stony  waste;  and  at  last  betwixt 
two  peaks  of  the  rock  wall  on  his  left  hand  he 
descried  a  streak  of  green  mingling  with  the 
cold  blue  of  the  distance;  and  he  thought  in 
his  heart  that  this  was  the  last  he  should  see 
of  the  Glittering  Plain.  Then  he  spake  aloud 
in  that  desert,  and  said,  though  there  was  none 
to  hear:  "  Now  is  my  last  hour  come;  and  here 
is  Hallblithe  of  the  Raven  perishing,  with  his 
deeds  undone  and  his  longing  unfulfilled,  and 
his  bridal-bed  acold  for  ever.  Long  may  the 
House  of  the  Raven  abide  and  flourish,  with 
many  a  man  and  maiden,  valiant  and  fair  and 
fruitful !  O  kindred,  cast  thy  blessing  on  this 
man  about  to  die  here,  doing  none  otherwise 
than  ye  would  have  him!" 

He  sat  there  a  little  while  longer,  and  then 
he  said  to  himself:  "  Death  tarries;  were  it  not 
well  that  I  go  to  meet  him,  even  as  the  cot-carle 
preventeth  the  mighty  chieftain.?  "  Then  he 
arose,  and  went  painfully  down  the  slope,  steady- 
ing himself  with  the  shaft  of  his  gleaming  spear; 
but  all  at  once  he  stopped;  for  it  seemed  to  him 
that  he  heard  voices  borne  on  the  wind  that 
blew  up  the  mountain-side.  But  he  shook  his 
head   and    said:    "Now   forsooth   beginneth   the 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 39 

dream  which  shall  last  for  ever;  nowise  am  I 
beguiled  by  it."  None  the  less  he  strove  the 
more  eagerly  with  the  wind,  and  the  way,  and 
his  feebleness;  yet  did  the  weakness  wax  on 
him,  so  that  it  was  but  a  little  while  ere  he  fal- 
tered and  reeled  and  fell  down  once  more  in  a 
swoon. 

When  he  came  to  himself  again  he  was  no 
longer  alone :  a  man  was  kneeling  down  by  him 
and  holding  up  his  head,  while  another  before 
him,  as  he  opened  his  eyes,  put  a  cup  of  wine 
to  his  lips.  So  Hallblithe  drank  and  was  re- 
freshed ;  and  presently  they  gave  him  bread,  and 
he  ate,  and  his  heart  was  strengthened,  and  the 
happiness  of  life  returned  to  it,  and  he  lay  back, 
and  slept  sweetly  for  a  season. 

When  he  awoke  from  that  slumber  he  found 
that  he  had  gotten  back  much  of  his  strength 
again,  and  he  sat  up  and  looked  around  him, 
and  saw  three  men  sitting  anigh,  armed  and  girt 
with  swords,  yet  in  evil  array,  and  sore  travel- 
worn.  One  of  these  was  very  old,  with  long 
white  hair  hanging  down;  and  another,  though 
he  was  not  so  much  stricken  in  years,  still  looked 
an  old  man  of  over  sixty  winters.  The  third 
was  a  man  some  forty  years  old,  but  sad  and 
sorry  and  drooping  of  aspect. 

So  when  they  saw  him  stirring,  they  all  fixed 


140      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

their  eyes  upon  him,  and  the  oldest  man  said: 
"  Welcome  to  him  who  erst  had  no  tidings  for 
us!"  And  the  second  said:  "Tell  us  now  thy 
tidings."  But  the  third,  the  sorry  man,  cried 
out  aloud,  saying:  "  Where  is  the  land?  Where 
is  the  land  ?  ' ' 

Said  Hallblithe:  "  Meseemeth  the  land  which 
ye  seek  is  the  land  which  I  seek  to  flee  from. 
And  now  I  will  not  hide  that  meseemeth  I  have 
seen  you  before,  and  that  was  at  Cleveland  by 
the  Sea  when  the  days  were  happier."  Then 
they  all  three  bowed  their  heads  in  yea-say,  and 
spake:  "Where  is  the  land?  Where  is  the 
land?"  Then  Hallblithe  arose  to  his  feet,  and 
said:  "Ye  have  healed  me  of  the  sickness  of 
death,  and  I  will  do  what  I  may  to  heal  you  of 
your  sickness  of  sorrow.  Come  up  the  pass  with 
me,  and  I  will  show  you  the  land  afar  off." 

Then  they  arose  like  young  and  brisk  men, 
and  he  led  them  over  the  brow  of  the  ridge  into 
the  little  valley  wherein  he  had  first  come  to 
himself:  there  he  showed  them  that  glimpse  of 
a  green  land  betwixt  the  two  peaks,  which  he 
had  beheld  e'en  now;  and  they  stood  a  while 
looking  at   it  and  weeping  for  joy. 

Then  spake  the  oldest  of  the  seekers:  "  Show 
us  the  way  to  the   land. 

"  Nay, "said  Hallblithe,  "  I  may  not;  for  when 


OR,  THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  I4I 

I  would  depart  thence,  I  might  not  go  by  mine 
own  will,  but  was  borne  out  hither,  I  wot  not 
how.  For  when  I  came  to  the  edge  of  the  land 
against  the  will  of  the  King,  he  smote  me,  and 
then  cast  me  out.  Therefore  since  I  may  not 
help  you,  find  ye  the  land  for  yourselves,  and 
let  me  go  blessing  you,  and  come  out  of  this 
desert  by  the  way  whereby  ye  entered  it.  For 
I  have  an  errand  in  the  world. ' ' 

Spake  the  youngest  of  the  seekers:  "  Now  art 
thou  become  the  yoke-fellow  of  Sorrow,  and  thou 
must  wend,  not  whither  thou  wouldst,  but  whither 
she  will :  and  she  would  have  thee  go  forward 
toward  life,   not  backward  toward  death." 

Said  the  midmost  seeker:  "If  we  let  thee  go 
further  into  the  wilderness  thou  shalt  surely  die : 
for  hence  to  the  peopled  parts,  and  the  City  of 
Merchants,  whence  we  come,  is  a  month's  jour- 
ney: and  there  is  neither  meat  nor  drink,  nor 
beast  nor  bird,  nor  any  green  thing  all  that  way ; 
and  since  we  have  found  thee  famishing,  we  may 
well  deem  that  thou  hast  no  victual.  As  to  us 
we  have  but  little;  so  that  if  it  be  much  more 
than  three  days'  journey  to  the  Glittering  Plain, 
we  may  well  starve  and  die  within  sight  of  the 
Acre  of  the  Undying.  Nevertheless  that  little 
will  we  share  with  thee  if  thou  wilt  help  us  to 
find  that  good  land ;  so  that  thou  mayst  yet  put 


142      THE  STORY  OF  THE   GLITTERING    PLAIN; 

away  Sorrow,    and  take  Joy  again  to  thy  board 
and  bed." 

Hallblithe  hung  his  head  and  answered  nought; 
for  he  was  confused  by  the  meshes  of  ill-hap,  and 
his  soul  grew  sick  with  the  bitterness  of  death. 
But  the  sad  man  spake  again  and  said:  "Thou 
hast  an  errand  sayst  thou  ?  is  it  such  as  a  dead 
man  may  do  .-^  " 

Hallblithe  pondered,  and  amidst  the  anguish 
of  his  despair  was  borne  in  on  him  a  vision  of 
the  sea-waves  lapping  the  side  of  a  black  ship, 
and  a  man  therein :  who  but  himself,  set  free  to 
do  his  errand,  and  his  heart  was  quickened  within 
him,  and  he  said:  "  I  thank  you,  and  I  will  wend 
back  with  you,  since  there  is  no  road  for  me  save 
back  again  into  the  trap." 

The  three  seekers  seemed  glad  thereat,  and  the 
second  one  said:  "  Though  death  is  pursuing,  and 
life  lieth  ahead,  yet  will  we  not  hasten  thee  un- 
duly. Time  was  when  I  was  Captain  of  the  Host, 
and  learned  how  battles  were  lost  by  lack  of  rest. 
Therefore  have  thy  sleep  now,  that  thou  mayst 
wax  in  strength  for  our  helping." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "  I  need  not  rest;  I  may  not 
rest;  I  will  not  rest." 

Said  the  sad  man:  "It  is  lawful  for  thee  to 
rest.     So  say  I,  who  was  once  a  master  of  law. ' ' 

Said  the  long-hoary  elder:  "And  I  command 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  143 

thee  to  rest;  I  who  was  once  the  king  of  a 
mighty  folk." 

In  sooth  Hallblithe  was  now  exceeding  weary; 
so  he  laid  him  down  and  slept  sweetly  in  the 
stony  wilderness  amidst  those  three  seekers,  the 
old,  the  sad,  and  the  very  old. 

When  he  awoke  he  felt  well  and  strong  again, 
and  he  leapt  to  his  feet  and  looked  about  him, 
and  saw  the  three  seekers  stirring,  and  he  deemed 
by  the  sun  that  it  was  early  morning.  The  sad 
man  brought  forth  bread  and  water  and  wine, 
and  they  broke  their  fast;  and  when  they  had 
done  he  spake  and  said:  "  Abideth  now  in  wallet 
and  bottle  but  one  more  full  meal  for  us,  and 
then  no  more  save  a  few  crumbs  and  a  drop  or 
two  of  wine  if  we  husband  it  well." 

Said  the  second  elder:  "Get  we  to  the  road, 
then,  and  make  haste.  I  have  been  seeking,  and 
meseemeth,  though  the  way  be  long,  it  is  not 
utterly  blind  for  us.  Or  look  thou,  Raven-son, 
is  there  not  a  path  yonder  that  leadeth  onward 
up  to  the  brow  of  the  ghyll  again  ?  and  as  I  have 
seen,  it  leadeth  on  again  down  from  the  said 
brow. ' ' 

Forsooth  there  was  a  track  that  led  through 
the  stony  tangle  of  the  wilderness ;  so  they  took 
to  the  road  with  a  good  heart,  and  went  all  day, 
and  saw  no  living  thing,  and  not  a  blade  of  grass 


144      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

or  a  trickle  of  water :  nought  save  the  wan  rocks 
under  the  sun ;  and  though  they  trusted  in  their 
road  that  it  led  them  aright,  they  saw  no  other 
glimpse  of  the  Glittering  Plain,  because  there 
rose  a  great  ridge  like  a  wall  on  the  north  side, 
and  they  went  as  it  were  down  along  a  trench 
of  the  rocks,  albeit  it  was  whiles  broken  across 
by  ghylls,  and  knolls,    and  reefs. 

So  at  sunset  they  rested  and  ate  their  victual, 
for  they  were  very  weary;  and  thereafter  they 
lay  down,  and  slept  as  soundly  as  if  they  were 
in  the  best  of  the  halls  of  men.  On  the  morrow 
betimes  they  arose  soberly  and  went  their  ways 
with  few  words,  and,  as  they  deemed,  the  path 
still  led  them  onward.  And  now  the  great  ridge 
on  the  north  rose  steeper  and  steeper,  and  their 
crossing  it  seemed  not  to  be  thought  of;  but 
their  half-blind  track  failed  them  not.  They 
rested  at  even,  and  ate  and  drank  what  little 
they  had  left,  save  a  mouthful  or  two  of  wine, 
and  then  went  on  again  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
which  was  so  bright  that  they  still  saw  their  way. 
And  it  happened  to  Hallblithe,  as  mostly  it  does 
with  men  very  travel-worn,  that  he  went  on  and 
on  scarce  remembering  where  he  was,  or  who  his 
fellows  were,  or  that  he  had  any  fellows.  So  at 
midnight  they  lay  down  in  the  wilderness  again, 
hungry  and  weary.     They  rose  at  dawn  and  went 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 45 

forward  with  waning  hope :  for  now  the  mountain 
ridge  on  the  north  was  close  to  their  path,  rising 
up  along  a  sheer  wall  of  pale  stone  over  which 
nothing  might  go  save  the  fowl  flying;  so  that 
at  first  on  that  morning  they  looked  for  nothing 
save  to  lay  their  bones  in  that  grievous  desert 
where  no  man  should  find  them.  But,  as  beset 
with  famine,  they  fared  on  heavily  down  the 
narrow  track,  there  came  a  hoarse  cry  from  Hall- 
blithe's  dry  throat  and  it  was  as  if  his  cry  had 
been  answered  by  another  like  to  his;  and  the 
seekers  turned  and  beheld  him  pointing  to  the 
cliff-side,  and  lo !  half-way  up  the  pale  sun-litten 
crag  stood  two  ravens  in  a  cranny  of  the  stone, 
flapping  their  wings  and  croaking,  with  thrust- 
ing forth  and  twisting  of  their  heads;  and  pres- 
ently they  came  floating  on  the  thin  pure  air 
high  up  over  the  heads  of  the  wayfarers,  croak- 
ing for  the  pleasure  of  the  meeting,  as  though 
they  laughed  thereat. 

Then  rose  the  heart  of  Hallblithe,  and  he 
smote  his  palms  together,  and  fell  to  singing  an 
old  song  of  his  people,  amidst  the  rocks  whereas 
few  men  had  sung  aforetime. 

AVhence  are  ye  and  whither, 
O  fowl  of  our  fathers  ? 
What  field  have  ye  looked  on, 
what  acres  unshorn? 
10 


146     THE   STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN  J 

What  land  have  ye  left 
where  the  battle-folk  gathers, 
And  the  war-helms  are  white 
o'er  the  paths  of  the  corn  ? 

What  tale  do  ye  bear 
of  the  people  uncraven, 
Where  amidst  the  long  hall- 
shadow  sparkle  the  spears ; 
Where  aloft  on  the  hall-ridge 
now  flappeth  the  raven, 
And  singeth  the  song 
of  the  nourishing  years  ? 

There  gather  the  lads 
in  the  first  of  the  morning, 
While  white  lies  the  battle- 
day's  dew  on  the  grass, 
And  the  kind  steeds  trot  up 
to  the  horn's  voice  of  warning, 
And  the  winds  wake  and  whine 
in  the  dusk  of  the  pass. 

O  fowl  of  our  fathers, 

why  now  are  ye  resting? 

Come  over  the  mountains 

and  look  on  the  foe. 

Full  fair  after  fight  won 

shall  yet  be  your  nesting ; 

And  your  fledglings 

the  sons  of  the  kindred  shall  know. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 47 

Therewith  he  strode  with  his  head  upraised, 
and  above  him  flew  the  ravens,  croaking  as  if 
they  answered  his  song  in  friendly  fashion. 

It  was  but  a  little  after  this  that  the  path 
turned  aside  sharp  toward  the  cliffs,  and  the 
seekers  were  abashed  thereof,  till  Hallblithe  run- 
ning forward  beheld  a  great  cavern  in  the  face 
of  the  cliff  at  the  path's  ending:  so  he  turned 
and  cried  on  his  fellows,  and  they  hastened  up, 
and  presently  stood  before  that  cavern's  mouth 
with  doubt  and  joy  mingled  in  the  minds;  for 
now,  mayhappen,  they  had  reached  the  gate  of 
the  Glittering  Plain,  or  mayhappen  the  gate  of 
death. 

The  sad  man  hung  his  head  and  spake:  "  Doth 
not  some  new  trap  abide  us.-*  What  do  we  here? 
is  this  aught  save  death?"  Spake  the  Elder  of 
Elders:  "Was  not  death  on  either  hand  e'en 
now,  ^  even  as  treason  besetteth  the  king  upon 
his  throne  ? ' ' 

And  the  second  said:  "Yea,  we  were  as  the 
host  which  hath  no  road  save  through  the  mul- 
titude of  foemen. " 

But  Hallblithe  laughed  and  said:  "Why  do 
ye  hang  back,  then?  As  for  me,  if  death  be 
here,  soon  is  mine  errand  sped."  Therewith  he 
led  the  way  into  the  dark  of  the  cave,  and  the 
ravens  hung  about  the  crag  over-head  croaking. 


148      THE   STORV   OK  THE   GLIITERING   PLAIN; 

as  the  men  left  the  light.  So  was  their  way- 
swallowed  up  in  the  cavern,  and  day  and  its 
time  became  nought  to  them;  they  went  on  and 
on,  and  became  exceeding  faint  and  weary,  but 
rested  not,  for  death  was  behind  them.  Whiles 
they  deemed  they  heard  waters  running,  and 
whiles  the  singing  of  fowl;  and  to  Hallblithe  it 
seemed  that  he  heard  his  name  called,  so  that 
he  shouted  back  in  answer;  but  all  was  still 
when  the  sound  of  his  voice  had  died  out. 

At  last,  when  they  were  pressing  on  again 
after  a  short  while  of  resting,  Hallblithe  cried 
out  that  the  cave  was  lightening:  so  they  has- 
tened onward,  and  the  light  grew  till  they  could 
see  each  other,  and  dimly  they  beheld  the  cave 
that  it  was  both  wide  and  high.  Yet  a  little 
further,  and  their  faces  showed  white  to  one 
another,  and  they  could  see  the  crannies  of  the 
rocks,  and  the  bats  hanging  garlanded  from  the 
roof.  So  then  they  came  to  where  the  day 
streamed  down  bright  on  them  from  a  break 
overhead,  and  lo !  the  sky  and  green  leaves  wav- 
ing against   it. 

To  those  way-worn  men  it  seemed  hard  to 
clamber  out  that  way,  and  especially  to  the 
Elders:  so  they  went  on  a  little  further  to  see 
if  there  were  aught  better  abiding  them,  but 
when  they  found  the  daylight  failing  them  again, 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING  MEN.  I49 

they  turned  back  to  the  place  of  the  break  in  the 
roof,  lest  they  should  waste  their  strength  and 
perish  in  the  bowels  of  the  mountain.  So  with 
much  ado  they  hove  up  Hallblithe  till  he  got 
him  first  on  to  a  ledge  of  the  rocky  wall,  and  so, 
what  by  strength,  what  by  cunning,  into  the  day- 
light through  the  rent  in  the  roof.  So  when  he 
was  without  he  made  a  rope  of  his  girdle  and 
strips  from  his  raiment,  for  he  was  ever  a  deft 
craftsman,  and  made  a  shift  to  heave  up  there- 
with the  sad  man,  who  was  light  and  lithe  of 
body;  and  then  the  two  together  dealt  with  the 
Elders  one  after  another,  till  they  were  all  four 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  again.  The  place  whereto 
they  had  gotten  was  the  side  of  a  huge  mountain, 
stony  and  steep,  but  set  about  with  bushes,  which 
seemed  full  fair  to  those  wanderers  amongst  the 
rocks.  This  mountain-slope  went  down  towards 
a  fair  green  plain,  which  Hallblithe  made  no 
doubt  was  the  outlying  waste  of  the  Glittering 
Plain :  nay,  he  deemed  that  he  could  see  afar  off 
thereon  the  white  walls  of  the  Uttermost  House. 
So  much  he  told  the  seekers  in  few  words ;  and 
then  while  they  grovelled  on  the  earth  and  wept 
for  pure  joy,  whereas  the  sun  was  down  and  it 
was  beginning  to  grow  dusk,  he  went  and  looked 
around  soberly  to  see  if  he  might  find  water  and 
any  kind  of  victual;  and  presently  a  little  down 


150      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  hillside  he  came  upon  a  place  where  a  spring 
came  gushing  up  out  of  the  earth  and  ran  down 
toward  the  plain ;  and  about  it  was  green  grass 
growing  plentifully,  and  a  little  thicket  of  bram- 
ble and  wilding  fruit-trees.  So  he  drank  of  the 
water,  and  plucked  him  a  few  wilding  apples 
somewhat  better  than  crabs,  and  then  went  up 
the  hill  again  and  fetched  the  seekers  to  that 
mountain  hostelry;  and  while  they  drank  of  the 
stream  he  plucked  them  apples  and  bramble- 
berries.  For  indeed  they  were  as  men  out  of 
their  wits,  and  were  dazed  by  the  extremity  of 
their  joy,  and  as  men  long  shut  up  in  prison,  to 
whom  the  world  of  men-folk  hath  become  strange. 
Simple  as  the  victual  was,  they  were  somewhat 
strengthened  by  it  and  by  the  plentiful  water, 
and  as  night  was  now  upon  them,  it  was  of 
no  avail  for  them  to  go  further:  so  they  slept 
beneath  the  boughs  of  the  thorn-bushes. 


OR,  THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  I5I 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

HALLBLITHE  DWELLETH   IN  THE  WOOD  ALONE. 

BUT  on  the  morrow  they  arose  betimes,  and 
broke  their  fast  on  that  woodland  victual, 
and  then  went  speedily  down  the  mountain-side; 
and  Hallblithe  saw  by  the  clear  morning  light 
that  it  was  indeed  the  Uttermost  House  which 
he  had  seen  across  the  green  waste.  So  he  told 
the  seekers;  but  they  were  silent  and  heeded 
nought,  because  of  a  fear  that  had  come  upon 
them,  lest  they  should  die  before  they  came  into 
that  good  land.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain 
they  came  upon  a  river,  deep  but  not  wide,  with 
low  grassy  banks,  and  Hallblithe,  who  was  an 
exceeding  strong  swimmer,  helped  the  seekers 
over  without  much  ado ;  and  there  they  stood  upon 
the  grass  of  that  goodly  waste.  Hallblithe  looked 
on  them  to  note  if  any  change  should  come  over 
them,  and  he  deemed  that  already  they  were  be- 
come stronger  and  of  more  avail.  But  he  spake 
nought  thereof,  and  strode  on  toward  the  Utter- 
most House,  even  as  that  other  day  he  had  strid- 


152      THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

den  away  from  it.  Such  diligence  they  made, 
that  it  was  but  little  after  noon  when  they  came 
to  the  door  thereof.  Then  Hallblithe  took  the 
horn  and  blew  upon  it,  while  his  fellows  stood 
by  murmuring,  "It  is  the  Land!  It  is  the 
Land!" 

So  came  the  warden  to  the  door,  clad  in  red 
scarlet,  and  the  elder  went  up  to  him  and  said: 
"  Is  this  the  Land.?  " 

"  What  land.?  "  said  the  Warden. 

"Is  it  the  Glittering  Plain.?  "  said  the  second 
of  the  seekers. 

"Yea,  forsooth,"  said  the  Warden.  Said  the 
sad  man:  "  Will  ye  lead  us  to  the  King.?  " 

"  Ye  shall  come  to  the  King, "  said  the  Warden. 

"  When,  oh  when.?  "  cried  they  out  all  three. 

"The  morrow  of  to-morrow,  maybe,"  said  the 
Warden. 

' '  Oh !  if  to-morrow  were  but  come ! ' '  they  cried. 

"  It  will  come,"  said  the  red  man;  "  enter  ye 
the  house,  and  eat  and  drink  and  rest  you."  So 
they  entered,  and  the  Warden  heeded  Hallblithe 
nothing.  They  ate  and  drank  and  then  went  to 
their  rest,  and  Hallblithe  lay  in  a  shut-bed  off 
from  the  hall,  but  the  Warden  brought  the  seek- 
ers otherwhere,  so  that  Hallblithe  saw  them  not 
after  he  had  gone  to  bed ;  but  as  for  him  he  slept 
and  forgot  that  aught  was. 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 53 

In  the  morning  when  he  awoke  he  felt  very 
strong  and  well-liking;  and  he  beheld  his  limbs 
that  they  were  clear  of  skin  and  sleek  and  fair; 
and  he  heard  one  hard  by  in  the  hall  carolling 
and  singing  joyously.  So  he  sprang  from  his 
bed  with  the  wonder  of  sleep  yet  in  him,  and 
drew  the  curtains  of  the  shut-bed  and  looked 
forth  into  the  hall ;  and  lo !  on  the  high-seat  a 
man  of  thirty  winters  by  seeming,  tall,  fair  of 
fashion,  with  golden  hair  and  eyes  as  gray  as 
glass,  proud  and  noble  of  aspect ;  and  anigh  him 
sat  another  man  of  like  age  to  look  on,  a  man 
strong  and  burly,  with  short  curling  brown  hair 
and  a  red  beard,  and  ruddy  countenance,  and 
the  mein  of  a  warrior.  Also,  up  and  down  the 
hall,  paced  a  man  younger  of  aspect  than  these 
two,  tall  and  slender,  black-haired  and  dark- 
eyed,  amorous  of  countenance ;  he  it  was  who  was 
singing  a  snatch  of  song  as  he  went  lightly  on 
the  hall  pavement :  a  snatch  like  to  this : 

Fair  is  the  world,  now  autumn  's  wearing, 
And  the  sluggard  sun  lies  long  abed ; 
Sweet  are  the  days,  now  winter  's  nearing. 
And  all  winds  feign  that  the  wind  is  dead. 

Dumb  is  the  hedge  where  the  crabs  hang  yellow, 
Bright  as  the  blossoms  of  the  spring ; 
Dumb  is  the  close  where  the  pears  grow  mellow, 
And  none  but  the  dauntless  redbreasts  sing. 


154      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Fair  was  the  spring,  but  amidst  his  greening 
Grey  were  the  days  of  the  hidden  sun ; 
Fair  was  the  summer,  but  overweening, 
So  soon  his  o'er-sweet  days  were  done. 

Come  then,  love,  for  peace  is  upon  us, 
Far  off  is  failing,  and  for  is  fear, 
Here  where  the  rest  in  the  end  hath  won  us, 
In  the  garnering  tide  of  the  happy  year. 

Come  from  the  grey  old  house  by  the  water. 
Where,  far  from  the  lips  of  the  hungry  sea. 
Green  groweth  the  grass  o'er  the  field  of  the  slaughter, 
And  all  is  a  tale  for  thee  and  me. 

So  Hallblithe  did  on  his  raiment  and  went 
into  the  hall ;  and  when  those  three  saw  him 
they  smiled  upon  him  kindly  and  greeted  him; 
and  the  noble  man  at  the  board  said:  "Thanks 
have  thou,  O  Warrior  of  the  Raven,  for  thy  help 
in  our  need :  thy  reward  from  us  shall  not  be 
lacking." 

Then  the  brown-haired  man  came  up  to  him, 
and  clapped  him  on  the  back  and  said  to  him: 
"Brisk  man  of  the  Raven,  good  is  thy  help  at 
need;  even  so  shall  be  mine  to  thee  hence- 
forward. ' ' 

But  the  young  man  stepped  up  to  him  lightly, 
and  cast  his  arms  about  him,  and  kissed  him,  and 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 55 

said:  "O  friend  and  fellow,  who  knoweth  but 
I  may  one  day  help  thee  as  thou  hast  holpen  me  ? 
though  thou  art  one  who  by  seeming  mayst  well 
help  thyself.  And  now  mayst  thou  be  as  merry 
as  I  am  to-day! " 

Then  they  all  three  cried  out  joyously:  "It 
is  the  Land!     It  is  the  Land!" 

So  Hallblithe  knew  that  these  men  were  the 
two  elders  and  the  sad  man  of  yesterday,  and 
that  they  had  renewed  their  youth. 

Joyously  now  did  those  men  break  their  fast : 
nor  did  Hallblithe  make  any  grim  countenance, 
for  he  thought:  "  That  which  these  dotards  and 
drivellers  have  been  mighty  enough  to  find,  shall 
I  not  be  mighty  enough  to  flee  from  ?  "  Breakfast 
done,  the  seekers  made  little  delay,  so  eager  as 
they  were  to  behold  the  King,  and  to  have  hand- 
sel of  their  new  sweet  life.  So  they  got  them 
ready  to  depart,  and  the  once-captain  said:  "  Art 
thou  able  to  lead  us  to  the  King,  O  Raven-son, 
or  must  we  seek  another  man  to  do  so  much  for 
us.?  "  Said  Hallblithe:  "  I  am  able  to  lead  you 
so  nigh  unto  Wood-end  (where,  as  I  deem,  the 
King  abideth)  that  ye  shall  not  miss  him." 
Therewith  they  went  to  the  door,  and  the  War- 
den unlocked  to  them,  and  spake  no  word  to  them 
when  they  departed,  though  they  thanked  him 
kindly  for  the  guesting. 


156      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

When  they  were  without  the  garth,  the  young 
man  fell  to  running  about  the  meadow  plucking 
great  handfuls  of  the  rich  flowers  that  grew  about, 
singing  and  carolling  the  while.  But  he  who  had 
been  king  looked  up  and  down  and  round  about, 
and  said  at  last:  "  Where  be  the  horses  and  the 
men?"  But  his  fellow  with  the  red  beard  said: 
"  Raven-son,  in  this  land  when  they  journey, 
what  do  they  as  to  riding  or  going  afoot  ?  ' '  Said 
Hallblithe :  "Fair  fellows,  ye  shall  wot  that  in 
this  land  folk  go  afoot  for  the  most  part,  both 
men  and  women;  whereas  they  weary  but  little, 
and  are  in  no  haste. ' ' 

Then  the  once-captain  clapped  the  once-king 
on  the  shoulder,  and  said:  "Hearken,  lord,  and 
delay  no  longer,  but  gird  up  thy  gown,  since 
here  is  no  mare's  son  to  help  thee:  for  fair  is 
to-day  that  lies  before  us,  with  many  a  fair  new 
day  beyond  it. ' ' 

So  Hallblithe  led  the  way  inward,  thinking 
of  many  things,  yet  but  little  of  his  fellows. 
Albeit  they,  and  the  younger  man  especially, 
were  of  many  words ;  for  this  black-haired  man 
had  many  questions  to  ask,  chiefly  concerning 
the  women,  what  they  were  like  to  look  on,  and 
of  what  mood  they  were.  Hallblithe  answered 
thereto  as  long  as  he  might,  but  at  last  he 
laughed  and  said:    "Friend,    forbear   thy   ques- 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 57 

tions  now;  for  meseemeth  in  a  few  hours  thou 
shalt  be  as  wise  hereon  as  is  the  God  of  Love 
himself." 

So  they  made  diligence  along  the  road,  and 
all  was  tidingless  till  on  the  second  day  at  even 
they  came  to  the  first  house  off  the  waste.  There 
had  they  good  welcome,  and  slept.  But  on  the 
morrow  when  they  arose,  Hallblithe  spake  to 
the  Seekers,  and  said :  "  Now  are  things  much 
changed  betwixt  us  since  the  time  when  we  first 
met :  for  then  I  had  all  my  desire,  as  I  thought, 
and  ye  had  but  one  desire,  and  well  nigh  lacked 
hope  of  its  fulfilment.  Whereas  now  the  lack 
hath  left  you  and  come  to  me.  Wherefore 
even  as  time  agone  ye  might  not  abide  even 
one  night  at  the  House  of  the  Raven,  so  hard 
as  your  desire  lay  on  you ;  even  so  it  fareth  with 
me  to-day,  that  I  am  consumed  with  my  desire, 
and  I  may  not  abide  with  you;  lest  that  be- 
fall which  befalleth  betwixt  the  full  man  and 
the  fasting.  Wherefore  now  I  bless  you  and 
depart." 

They  abounded  in  words  of  good-will  to  him, 
and  the  once-king  said :  "  Abide  with  us,  and  we 
shall  see  to  it  that  thou  have  all  the  dignities 
that  a  man  may  think  of." 

And  the  once-captain  said :  "  Lo,  here  is 
mine  hand  that  hath  been  mighty;  never  shalt 


158      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

thou    lack    it   for   the    accomplishment    of    thine 
uttermost  desire.      Abide  with  us." 

Lastly  said  the  young  man:  "Abide  with  us, 
Son  of  the  Raven!  Set  thine  heart  on  a  fair 
woman,  yea  even  were  it  the  fairest;  and  I  will 
get  her  for  thee,  even  were  my  desire  set  on 
her." 

But  he  smiled  on  them,  and  shook  his  head, 
and  said:  "All  hail  to  you!  but  mine  errand  is 
yet  undone."     And  therewith  he  departed. 

He  skirted  Wood-end  and  came  not  to  it,  but 
got  him  down  to  the  side  of  the  sea,  not  far  from 
where  he  first  came  aland,  but  somewhat  south 
of  it.  A  fair  oak-wood  came  down  close  to  the 
beach  of  the  sea;  it  was  some  four  miles  end- 
long and  over-thwart.  Thither  Hallblithe  be- 
took him,  and  in  day  or  two  got  him  wood-wright's 
tools  from  a  house  of  men  a  little  outside  the 
wood,  three  miles  from  the  sea-shore.  Then  he 
set  to  work  and  built  him  a  little  frame-house 
on  a  lawn  of  the  wood  beside  a  clear  stream ;  for 
he  was  a  very  deft  wood-wright.  Withal  he 
made  him  a  bow  and  arrows,  and  shot  what  he 
would  of  the  fowl  and  the  deer  for  his  liveli- 
hood; and  folk  from  that  house  and  otherwhence 
came  to  see  him,  and  brought  him  bread  and 
wine  and  spicery  and  other  matters  which  he 
needed.     And  the  days  wore,  and  men  got   used 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 59 

to  him,  and  loved  him  as  if  he  had  been  a  rare 
image  which  had  been  brought  to  that  land  for 
its  adornment ;  and  now  they  no  longer  called 
him  the  Spearman,  but  the  Wood-lover.  And 
as  for  him,  he  took  all  in  patience,  abiding  what 
the  lapse  of  days  should  bring  forth. 


l60     THE  STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

HALLBLITHE   BUILDS   HIM   A   SKIFF. 

AFTER  Hallblithe  had  been  housed  a  little 
while,  and  the  time  was  again  drawing 
nigh  to  the  twelfth  moon  since  he  had  come  to 
the  Glittering  Plain,  he  went  in  the  wood  one 
day;  and,  pondering  many  things  without  fixing 
on  any  one,  he  stood  before  a  very  great  oak- 
tree  and  looked  at  the  tall  straight  bole  thereof, 
and  there  came  into  his  head  the  words  of  an 
old  song  which  was  written  round  a  scroll  of 
the  carving  over  the  shut-bed,  wherein  he  was 
wont  to  lie  when  he  was  at  home  in  the  House 
of  the  Raven :  and  thus  it  said : 

I  am  the  oak-tree,  and  forsooth 
Men  deal  by  me  with  little  ruth ; 
My  boughs  they  shred,  my  life  they  slay, 
And  speed  me  o'er  the  watery  way. 

He  looked  up  into  that  leafy  world  for  a  little 
and  then  turned  back  toward  his  house;  but  all 
day  long,   whether  he  were  at  work  or  at  rest. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  l6l 

that  posy  ran  in  his  head,  and  he  kept  on  saying 
it  over,  aloud  or  not  aloud,  till  the  day  was  done 
and  he  went  to  sleep. 

Then  in  his  sleep  he  dreamed  that  an  exceed- 
ing fair  woman  stood  by  his  bedside,  and  at  first 
she  seemed  to  him  to  be  an  image  of  the  Hostage. 
But  presently  her  face  changed,  and  her  body  and 
her  raiment ;  and,  lo !  it  was  the  lovely  woman, 
the  King's  daughter  whom  he  had  seen  wasting 
her  heart  for  the  love  of  him.  Then  even  in  his 
dream  shame  thereof  overtook  him,  and  because 
of  that  shame  he  awoke,  and  lay  awake  a  little, 
hearkening  the  wind  going  through  the  woodland 
boughs,  and  the  singing  of  the  owl  who  had  her 
dwelling  in  the  hollow  oak  nigh  to  his  house. 
Slumber  overcame  him  in  a  little  while,  and 
again  the  image  of  the  King's  daughter  came 
to  him  in  his  dream,  and  again  when  he  looked 
upon  her,  shame  and  pity  rose  so  hotly  in  his 
heart  that  he  awoke  weeping,  and  lay  a  while 
hearkening  to  the  noises  of  the  night.  The  third 
time  he  slept  and  dreamed;  and  once  more  that 
image  came  to  him.  And  now  he  looked,  and 
saw  that  she  had  in  her  hand  a  book  covered  out- 
side with  gold  and  gems,  even  as  he  saw  it  in  the 
orchard-close  aforetime:  and  he  beheld  her  face 
that  it  was  no  longer  the  face  of  one  sick  with 
sorrow;  but  glad  and  clear,  and  most  beauteous. 

II 


1 62      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

Now  she  opened  the  book  and  held  it  before 
Hallblithe  and  turned  the  leaves  so  that  he  might 
see  them  clearly;  and  therein  were  woods  and 
castles  painted,  and  burning  mountains,  and  the 
wall  of  the  world,  and  kings  upon  their  thrones, 
and  fair  women  and  warriors,  all  most  lovely  to 
behold,  even  as  he  had  seen  it  aforetime  in  the 
orchard  when  he  lay  lurking  amidst  the  leaves 
of  the  bay-tree. 

■  So  at  last  she  came  to  the  place  in  the  book 
wherein  was  painted  Hallblithe' s  own  image  over 
against  the  image  of  the  Hostage;  and  he  looked 
thereon  and  longed.  But  she  turned  the  leaf, 
and,  lo!  on  one  side  the  Hostage  again,  standing 
in  a  fair  garden  of  the  spring  with  the  lilies  all 
about  her  feet,  and  behind  her  the  walls  of  a 
house,  grey,  ancient,  and  lovely:  and  on  the 
other  leaf  over  against  her  was  painted  a  sea 
rippled  by  a  little  wind,  and  a  boat  thereon  sail- 
ing swiftly,  and  one  man  alone  in  the  boat  sitting 
and  steering  with  a  cheerful  countenance;  and 
he,  who  but  Hallblithe  himself.  Hallblithe 
looked  thereon  for  a  while  and  then  the  King's 
daughter  shut  the  book,  and  the  dream  flowed 
into  other  imaginings  of  no  import. 

In  the  grey  dawn  Hallblithe  awoke,  and  called 
to  mind  his  dream,  and  he  leapt  from  his  bed  and 
washed  the  night  from  off  him   in  the  stream, 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  1 63 

and  clad  himself  and  went  the  shortest  way 
through  the  wood  to  that  House  of  folk  afore- 
said :  and  as  he  went  his  face  was  bright  and  he 
sang  the  second  part  of  the  carven  posy ;  to  wit : 

Along  the  grass  I  lie  forlorn 
That  when  a  while  of  time  is  worn, 
I  may  be  filled  with  war  and  peace 
And  bridge  the  sundering  of  the  seas. 

He  came  out  of  the  wood  and  hastened  over  the 
flowery  meads  of  the  Glittering  Plain,  and  came 
to  that  same  house  when  it  was  yet  very  early. 

At  the  door  he  came  across  a  damsel  bearing 
water  from  the  well,  and  she  spake  to  him  and 
said:  "Welcome,  Wood-lover!  Seldom  art  thou 
seen  in  our  garth;  and  that  is  a  pity  of  thee. 
And  now  I  look  on  thy  face  I  see  that  gladness 
hath  come  into  thine  heart,  and  that  thou  art 
most  fair  and  lovely.  Here  then  is  a  token  for 
thee  of  the  increase  of  gladness."  Therewith 
she  set  her  buckets  on  the  earth,  and  stood  be- 
fore him,  and  took  him  by  the  ears,  and  drew 
down  his  face  to  hers  and  kissed  him  sweetly. 
He  smiled  on  her  and  said:  "I  thank  thee,  sis- 
ter, for  the  kiss  and  the  greeting;  but  I  come 
here  having  a  lack." 

"Tell  us,"  she  said,  "that  we  may  do  thee  a 
pleasure. " 


1 64      THE    STORY   OF  THE   GLHTERING   PLAIN; 

He  said :  "  I  would  ask  the  folk  to  give  me 
timber,  both  beams  and  battens  and  boards;  for 
if  I  hew  in  the  wood  it  will  take  long  to  season." 

"All  this  is  free  for  thee  to  take  from  our 
wood-store  when  thou  hast  broken  thy  fast  with 
us,"  said  the  damsel.  "Come  thou  in  and  rest 
thee." 

She  took  him  by  the  hand  and  they  went  in 
together,  and  she  gave  him  to  eat  and  drink,  and 
went  up  and  down  the  house,  saying  to  every 
one:  "Here  is  come  the  Wood-lover,  and  he  is 
glad  again;  come  and  see  him." 

So  the  folk  gathered  about  him,  and  made 
much  of  him.  And  when  they  had  made  an 
end  of  breakfast,  the  head  man  of  the  House 
said  to  him:  "The  beasts  are  in  the  wain,  and 
the  timber  abideth  thy  choosing;  come  and  see." 
So  he  brought  Hallblithe  to  the  timber-bower, 
where  he  chose  for  himself  all  that  he  needed 
of  oak-timber  of  the  best;  and  they  loaded  the 
wain  therewith,  and  gave  him  what  he  would 
moreover  of  nails  and  tree-nails  and  other  mat- 
ters; and  he  thanked  them;  and  they  said  to 
him:  "Whither  now  shall  we  lead  thy  timber.?" 

"Down  to  the  sea-side,"  quoth  he,  "nighest  to 
my  dwelling." 

So  did  they,  and  more  than  a  score,  men  and 
women,  went  with  him,  some  in  the  wain,  and 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 65 

some  afoot.  Thus  they  came  down  to  the  sea- 
shore, and  laid  the  timber  on  the  strand  just 
above  high-water  mark;  and  straightway  Hall- 
blithe  fell  to  work  shaping  him  a  boat,  for  well 
he  knew  the  whole  craft  thereof;  and  the  folk 
looked  on  wondering,  till  the  tide  had  ebbed  the 
little  it  was  wont  to  ebb,  and  left  the  moist  sand 
firm  and  smooth;  then  the  women  left  watching 
Hallblithe's  work,  and  fell  to  paddling  barefoot 
in  the  clear  water,  for  there  was  scarce  a  ripple 
on  the  sea;  and  the  carles  came  and  played  with 
them  so  that  Hallblithe  was  left  alone  a  while; 
for  this  kind  of  play  was  new  to  that  folk,  since 
they  seldom  came  down  to  the  sea-side.  There- 
after they  needs  must  dance  together,  and  would 
have  had  Hallblithe  dance  with  them;  and  when 
he  naysaid  them  because  he  was  fain  of  his  work, 
in  all  playfulness  they  fell  to  taking  the  adze 
from  out  his  hand,  whereat  he  became  somewhat 
wroth,  and  they  were  afraid  and  went  and  had 
their  dance  out  without  him.. 

By  this  time  the  sun  was  grown  very  hot,  and 
they  came  to  him  again,  and  lay  down  about  him 
and  watched  his  work,  for  they  were  weary.  And 
one  of  the  women,  still  panting  with  the  dance, 
spake  as  she  looked  on  the  loveliness  of  her 
limbs,  which  one  of  the  swains  was  caressing: 
"Brother,"  said  she,  "great  strokes  thou  smitest; 


l66      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

when  wilt  thou  have  smitten  the  last  of  them, 
and  come  to  our  house  again  ? " 

"Not  for  many  days,  fair  sister,"  said  he,  with- 
out looking  up. 

"Alas  that  thou  shouldst  talk  so,"  said  a  carle, 
rising  up  from  the  warm  sand;  "What  shall  all 
thy  toil  win  thee?  " 

Spake  Hallblithe:  "Maybe  a  merry  heart,  or 
maybe  death." 

At  that  word  they  all  rose  up  together,  and 
stood  huddled  together  like  sheep  that  have  been 
driven  to  the  croft-gate,  and  the  shepherd  hath 
left  them  for  a  little  and  they  know  not  whither 
to  go.  Little  by  little  they  got  them  to  the 
wain  and  harnessed  their  beasts  thereto,  and  de- 
parted silently  by  the  way  that  they  had  come; 
but  in  a  little  time  Hallblithe  heard  their  laugh- 
ter and  merry  speech  across  the  flowery  meadows. 
He  heeded  their  departure  little,  but  went  on 
working,  and  worked  the  sun  down,  and  on  till 
the  stars  began  to  twinkle.  Then  he  went  home 
to  his  house  in  the  wood,  and  slept  and  dreamed 
not,  and  began  again  on  the  morrow  with  a  good 
heart. 

To  be  short,  no  day  passed  that  he  wrought 
not  his  full  tale  of  work,  and  the  days  wore,  and 
his  shipwright's  work  throve.  Often  the  folk 
of  that  house,  and  from  otherwhere  round  about. 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  167 

came  down  to  the  strand  to  watch  him  working. 
Nowise  did  they  wilfully  hinder  him,  but  whiles 
when  they  could  get  no  talk  from  him,  they 
would  speak  of  ■  him  to  each  other,  wondering 
that  he  should  so  toil  to  sail  upon  the  sea;  for 
they  loved  the  sea  but  little,  and  it  soon  be- 
came clear  to  them  that  he  was  looking  to  nought 
else :  though  it  may  not  be  said  that  they  deemed 
he  would  leave  the  land  for  ever.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  they  hindered  him  not,  neither  did  they 
help,  saving  when  he  prayed  them  for  somewhat 
which  he  needed,  which  they  would  then  give 
him  blithely. 

Of  the  Sea-eagle  and  his  damsel,  Hallblithe 
saw  nought ;  whereat  he  was  well  content,  for  he 
deemed  it  of  no  avail  to  make  a  second  sundering 
of  it. 

So  he  worked  and  kept  his  heart  up,  and  at 
last  all  was  ready ;  he  had  made  him  a  mast  and 
a  sail,  and  oars,  and  whatso-other  gear  there  was 
need  of.  So  then  he  thrust  his  skiff  into  the 
sea  on  an  evening  whenas  there  were  but  two 
carles  standing  by;  for  there  would  often  be  a 
score  or  two  of  folk.  These  two  smiled  on  him 
and  bespake  him  kindly,  but  would  not  help  him 
when  he  bade  them  set  shoulder  to  her  bows  and 
shove.  Albeit  he  got  the  skiff  into  the  water 
without  much  ado,  and  got  into  her,  and  brought 


l68      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

her  to  where  a  stream  running  from  out  of  his 
wood  made  a  little  haven  for  her  up  from  the 
sea.  There  he  tied  her  to  a  tree-bole,  and  busied 
himself  that  even  with  getting  the  gear  into  her, 
and  victual  and  water  withal,  as  much  as  he 
deemed  he  should  need :  and  so,  being  weary,  he 
went  to  his  house  to  sleep,  thinking  that  he 
should  awake  in  the  grey  of  the  morning  and 
thrust  out  into  the  deep  sea.  And  he  was  the 
more  content  to  abide,  because  on  that  eve,  as 
oftenest  betid,  the  wind  blew  landward  from 
the  sea  whereas  in  the  morning  it  oftenest  blew 
seaward  from  the  land.  In  any  case  he  thought 
to  be  astir  so  timely  that  he  should  come  alone 
to  his  keel,  and  depart  with  no  leave-takings. 
But,  as  it  fell  out,  he  overslept  himself,  so  that 
when  he  came  out  into  the  wood  clad  in  all  his 
armour,  with  his  sword  girt  to  his  side,  and  his 
spear  over  his  shoulder,  he  heard  the  voices  of 
folk,  and  presently  found  so  many  gathered  about 
his  boat  that  he  had  some  ado  to  get  aboard. 

The  folk  had  brought  many  gifts  for  him  of 
such  things  as  they  deemed  he  might  need  for 
a  short  voyage,  as  fruit  and  wine,  and  wool- 
len cloths  to  keep  the  cold  night  from  him;  he 
thanked  them  kindly  as  he  stepped  over  the 
gunwale,  and  some  of  the  women  kissed  him : 
and   one  said  (she  it  was,  who  had  met  him  at 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 69 

the  Stead  that  morning  when  he  went  to  fetch 
timber):  "Thou  wilt  be  back  this  even,  wilt 
thou  not,  brother?  It  is  yet  but  early,  and  thou 
shalt  have  time  enough  to  take  all  thy  pleasure 
on  the  sea,  and  then  come  back  to  us  to  eat  thy 
meat  in  our  house  at  nightfall." 

She  spake,  knitting  her  brows  in  longing  for 
his  return ;  but  he  knew  that  all  those  deemed 
he  would  come  back  again  soon;  else  had  they 
deemed  him  a  rebel  of  the  King,  and  might,  as 
he  thought,  have  stayed  him.  So  he  changed 
not  countenance  in  any  wise,  but  said  only : 
"  Farewell,  sister,  for  this  day,  and  farewell  to 
all  you  till  I  come  back."  Therewith  he  un- 
moored his  boat,  and  sat  down  and  took  the 
oars,  and  rowed  till  he  was  out  of  the  little 
haven,  and  on  the  green  sea,  and  the  keel  rose 
and  fell  on  the  waves.  Then  he  stepped  the 
mast  and  hoisted  sail,  and  sheeted  home,  for 
the  morning  wind  was  blowing  gently  from  the 
mountains  over  the  meadows  of  the  Glittering 
Plain,  so  the  sail  filled,  and  the  keel  leapt  for- 
ward and  sped  over  the  face  of  the  cold  sea. 
And  it  is  to  be  said  that  whether  he  wotted  or 
not,  it  was  the  very  day  twelve  months  since  he 
had  come  to  that  shore  along  with  the  Sea- 
eagle.  So  that  folk  stood  and  watched  the  skiff 
growing   less  and  less   upon  the  deep  till   they 


I/O     THE  STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

could  scarce  see  her.  Then  they  turned  about 
and  went  into  the  wood  to  disport  them,  for  the 
sun  was  growing  hot.  Nevertheless,  there  were 
some  of  them  (and  that  damsel  was  one),  who 
came  back  to  the  sea-shore  from  time  to  time 
all  day  long;  and  even  when  the  sun  was  down 
they  looked  seaward  under  the  rising  moon,  ex- 
pecting to  see  Hallblithe's  bark  come  into  the 
shining  path  which  she  drew  across  the  waters 
round  about  the  Glittering  Plain. 


OR,  THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  171 


CHAPTER  XX. 

so  NOW  SAILETH   HALLBLITHE  AWAY  FROM  THE 
GLITTERING   PLAIN. 

BUT  as  to  Hallblithe,  he  soon  lost  sight  of 
the  Glittering  Plain  and  the  mountains 
thereof,  and  there  was  nought  but  sea  all  round 
about  him,  and  his  heart  swelled  with  joy  as  he 
sniffed  the  brine  and  watched  the  gleaming  hills 
and  valleys  of  the  restless  deep;  and  he  said  to 
himself  that  he  was  going  home  to  his  Kindred 
and  the  Roof  of  his  Fathers  of  old  time. 

He  stood  as  near  due  north  as  he  might;  but 
as  the  day  wore,  the  wind  headed  him,  and  he 
deemed  it  not  well  to  beat,  lest  he  should  make 
his  voyage  overlong;  so  he  ran  on  with  the  wind 
abeam,  and  his  little  craft  leapt  merrily  over 
the  sea-hills  under  the  freshening  breeze.  The 
sun  set  and  the  moon  and  stars  shone  out,  and 
he  still  sailed  on,  and  durst  not  sleep,  save 
as  a  dog  does,  with  one  eye.  At  last  came 
dawn,  and  as  the  light  grew  it  was  a  fair  day 
with   a  falling  wind,   and  a  bright    sky,   but   it 


1/2      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

clouded  over  before  sunset,  and  the  wind  fresh- 
ened from  the  north  by  east,  and,  would  he, 
would  he  not,  Hallblithe  must  run  before  it 
night-long,  till  at  sunrise  it  fell  again,  and  all 
day  was  too  light  for  him  to  make  much  way 
beating  to  northward;  nor  did  it  freshen  till  after 
the  moon  was  risen  some  while  after  sunset. 

And  now  he  was  so  weary  that  he  must  needs 
sleep;  so  he  lashed  the  helm,  and  took  a  reef 
in  the  sail,  and  ran  before  the  wind,  he  sleeping 
in  the  stern. 

But  past  the  middle  of  the  night,  towards  the 
dawning,  he  awoke  with  the  sound  of  a  great 
shout  in  his  ears.  So  he  looked  over  the  dark 
waters,  and  saw  nought,  for  the  night  was  cloudy 
again.  Then  he  trimmed  his  craft,  and  went 
to  sleep  again,  for  he  was  overburdened  with 
slumber. 

When  he  awoke  it  was  broad  daylight ;  so  he 
looked  to  the  tiller  and  got  the  boat's  head  a 
little  up  to  the  wind,  and  then  gazed  about  him 
with  the  sleep  still  in  his  eyes.  And  as  his 
eyes  took  in  the  picture  before  him  he  could 
not  refrain  a  cry;  for  lo !  there  arose  up  great 
and  grim  right  ahead  the  black  cliffs  of  the  Isle 
of  Ransom.  Straightway  he  got  to  the  sheet, 
and  strove  to  wear  the  boat;  but  for  all  that  he 
could  do  she  drifted  toward  the  land,  for  she  was 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING   MEN.  1 73 

gotten  into  a  strong  current  of  the  sea  that  set 
shoreward.  So  he  struck  sail,  and  took  the  oars 
and  rowed  mightily  so  that  he  might  bear  her 
off  shore;  but  it  availed  nothing,  and  still  he 
drifted  landward. 

So  he  stood  up  from  the  oars,  and  turned  about 
and  looked,  and  saw  that  he  was  but  some  three 
furlongs  from  the  shore,  and  that  he  was  come 
to  the  very  haven-mouth  whence  he  had  set  sail 
with  the  Sea-eagle  a  twelvemonth  ago :  and  he 
knew  that  into  that  haven  he  needs  must  get 
him,  or  be  dashed  to  pieces  against  the  high 
cliffs  of  the  land :  and  he  saw  how  the  waves 
ran  on  to  the  cliffs,  and  whiles  one  higher  than 
the  others  smote  the  rock-wall  and  ran  up  it, 
as  if  it  could  climb  over  on  to  the  grassy  lip 
beyond,  and  then  fell  back  again,  leaving  a  river 
of  brine  running  down  the  steep. 

Then  he  said  that  he  would  take  what  might 
befall  him  inside  the  haven.  So  he  hoisted  sail 
again,  and  took  the  tiller,  and  steered  right  for  the 
midmost  of  the  gate  between  the  rocks,  wondering 
what  should  await  him  there.  Then  it  was  but 
a  few  minutes  ere  his  bark  shot  into  the  smooth- 
ness of  the  haven,  and  presently  began  to  lose  way ; 
for  all  the  wind  was  dead  within  that  land-locked 
water.  Hallblithe  looked  steadily  round  about 
seeking  his  foe;  but  the  haven  was  empty  of  ship 


174     THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING  PLAIN; 

or  boat ;  so  he  ran  his  eye  along  the  shore  to  see 
where  he  should  best  lay  his  keel ;  and  as  afore- 
said there  was  no  beach  there,  and  the  water  was 
deep  right  up  to  the  grassy  lip  of  the  land; 
though  the  tides  ran  somewhat  high,  and  at  low 
water  would  a  little  steep  undercliff  go  up  from 
the  face  of  the  sea.  But  now  it  was  near  the 
top  of  the  tide,  and  there  was  scarce  two  feet 
betwixt  the  grass  and  the  dark-green  sea. 

Now  Hallblithe  steered  toward  an  ingle  of  the 
haven;  and  beyond  it,  a  little  way  off,  rose  a  reef 
of  rocks  out  of  the  green  grass,  and  thereby  was 
a  flock  of  sheep  feeding,  and  a  big  man  lying 
down  amongst  them,  who  seemed  to  be  unarmed, 
as  Hallblithe  could  not  see  any  glint  of  steel 
about  him. 

Hallblithe  drew  nigh  the  shore,  and  the  big 
man  stirred  not ;  nor  did  he  any  the  more  when 
the  keel  ran  along  the  shore,  and  Hallblithe  leapt 
out  and  moored  his  craft  to  his  spear  stuck  deep 
in  the  earth.  And  now  Hallblithe  deems  that 
the  man  must  be  either  dead  or  asleep :  so  he 
drew  his  sword  and  had  it  in  his  right  hand,  and 
in  Kis  left  a  sharp  knife,  and  went  straight  up 
to  the  man  betwixt  the  sheep,  and  found  him  so 
lying  on  his  side  that  he  could  not  see  his  face; 
so  he  stirred  him  with  his  foot  and  cried  out : 
"  Awake,  O  Shepherd !   for  dawn  is  long  past  and 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 75 

day  is  come,  and  therewithal  a  guest  for  thee ! " 
The  man  turned  over  and  slowly  sat  up,  and,  lo ! 
who  should  it  be  but  the  Puny  Fox?  Hallblithe 
started  back  at  the  sight  of  him,  and  cried  out 
at  him,  and  said:  "Have  I  found  thee,  O  mine 
enemy? " 

The  Puny  Fox  sat  up  a  little  straighter,  and 
rubbed  his  eyes  and  said :  "  Yea,  thou  hast  found 
me  sure  enough.  But  as  to  my  being  thine 
enemy,  a  word  or  two  may  be  said  about  that 
presently." 

"What!"  said  Hallblithe,  "dost  thou  deem 
that  aught  save  my  sword  will  speak  to  thee  ? " 

"I  wot  not,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  slowly  rising 
to  his  feet,  "but  I  suppose  thou  wilt  not  slay 
me  unarmed,  and  thou  seest  that  I  have  no 
weapons." 

"Get  thee  weapons,  then,"  quoth  Hallblithe, 
"and  delay  not;  for  the  sight  of  thee  alive 
sickens  me." 

"Ill  is  that,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  "but  come 
thou  with  me  at  once,  where  I  shall  find  both 
the  weapons  and  a  good  fighting-stead.  Hasten! 
time  presseth,   now  thou  art  come  at  last." 

"  And  my  boat  ?  "  said  Hallblithe.  "  Wilt  thou 
carry  her  in  thy  pouch  ? "  said  the  Puny  Fox ; 
"thou  wilt  not  need  her  again,  whether  thou 
slay  me,  or  I  thee." 


1/6      THE   STORY   OF   THE    GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Hallblithe  knit  his  brows  on  him  in  his  wrath; 
for  he  deemed  that  Fox's  meaning  was  to  threaten 
him  with  the  vengeance  of  the  kindred.  How- 
beit,  he  said  nought;  for  he  deemed  it  ill  to 
wrangle  in  words  with  one  whom  he  was  pres- 
ently to  meet  in  battle;  so  he  followed  as  the 
Puny  Fox  led.  Fox  brought  him  past  the  reef 
of  rock  aforesaid,  and  up  a  narrow  cleft  of  the 
cliffs  overlooking  the  sea,  whereby  they  came 
into  a  little  grass-grown  meadow  well  nigh  round 
in  shape,  as  smooth  and  level  as  a  hall-floor,  and 
fenced  about  by  a  wall  of  rock:  a  place  which 
had  once  been  the  mouth  of  an  earth-fire,  and 
a  cauldron  of  molten  stone. 

When  they  stood  on  the  smooth  grass  Fox 
said:  "Hold  thee  there  a  little,  while  I  go  to 
my  weapon-chest,  and  then  shall  we  see  what  is 
to  be  done." 

Therewith  he  turned  aside  to  a  cranny  of  the 
rock,  and  going  down  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
fell  to  creeping  like  a  worm  up  a  hole  therein, 
which  belike  led  to  a  cavern;  for  after  his  voice 
had  come  forth  from  the  earth,  grunting  and 
groaning,  and  cursing  this  thing,  and  that,  out 
he  comes  again  feet  first,  and  casts  down  an  old 
rusty  sword  without  a  sheath;  a  helm  no  less 
rusty,  and  battered  withal,  and  a  round  target, 
curled   up   and   out-worn  as    if  it  would  fall  to 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 77 

pieces  of  itself.  Then  he  stands  up  and  stretches 
himself,  and  smiles  pleasantly  on  Hallblithe  and 
says :  "  Now,  mine  enemy,  when  I  have  donned 
helm  and  shield  and  got  my  sword  in  hand,  we 
may  begin  the  play :  as  to  a  hauberk  I  must  needs 
go  lack;  for  I  could  not  come  by  it ;  I  think  the 
old  man  must  have  chaffered  it  away :  he  was 
ever  too  money-fain." 

But  Hallblithe  looked  on  him  angrily  and  said: 
"Hast  thou  brought  me  hither  to  mock  me? 
Hast  thou  no  better  weapons  wherewith  to  meet 
a  warrior  of  the  Raven  than  these  rusty  shards, 
which  look  as  if  thou  hadst  robbed  a  grave  of 
the  dead.-*     I  will  not  fight  thee  so  armed." 

"Well,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  "and  from  out  of 
a  grave  come  they  verily :  for  in  that  little  hole 
lieth  my  father's  grandsire,  the  great  Sea-mew 
of  the  Ravagers,  the  father  of  that  Sea-eagle 
whom  thou  knowest.  But  since  thou  thinkest 
scorn  of  these  weapons  of  a  dead  warrior,  in  go 
the  old  carle's  treasures  again!  It  is  as  well 
maybe;  since  he  might  be  wrath  beyond  his 
wont  if  he  were  to  wake  and  miss  them;  and 
already  this  cold  cup  of  the  once-boiling  rock 
is  not  wholly  safe  because  of  him." 

So  he  crept  into  the  hole  once  more,  and  out 
of  it  presently,  and  stood  smiting  his  palms  one 
against  the  other  to  dust  them,  like  a  man  who 

12 


178      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITfERING   PLAIN; 

has  been  handling  parchments  long  laid  by;  and 
Hallblithe  stood  looking  at  him,  still  wrathful, 
but  silent. 

Then  said  the  Puny  Fox:  "This  at  least  was 
a  wise  word  of  thine,  that  thou  wouldst  not  fight 
me.  For  the  end  of  fighting  is  slaying;  and  it 
is  stark  folly  to  fight  without  slaying;  and  now 
I  see  that  thou  desirest  not  to  slay  me :  for  if 
thou  didst,  why  didst  thou  refuse  to  fall  on  me 
armed  with  the  ghosts  of  weapons  that  I  bor- 
rowed from  a  ghost.''  Nay,  why  didst  thou  not 
slay  me  as  I  crept  out  of  yonder  hole.''  Thou 
wouldst  have  had  a  cheap  bargain  of  me  either 
way.     It  would  be  rank  folly  to  fight  me." 

Said  Hallblithe  hoarsely:  "Why  didst  thou 
bewray  me,  and  lie  to  me,  and  lure  me  away 
from  the  quest  of  my  beloved,  and  waste  a  whole 
year  of  my  life.'' " 

"  It  is  a  long  story,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  "which 
I  may  tell  thee  some  day.  Meantime  I  may  tell 
thee  this,  that  I  was  compelled  thereto  by  one 
far  mightier  than  I,  to  wit  the  Undying  King." 

At  that  word  the  smouldering  wrath  blazed  up 
in  Hallblithe,  and  he  drew  his  sword  hastily  and 
hewed  at  the  Puny  Fox:  but  he  leapt  aside  nim- 
bly and  ran  in  on  Hallblithe,  and  caught  his 
sword-arm  by  the  wrist,  and  tore  the  weapon 
out    of   his    hand,    and    overbore   him    by   sheer 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN,  1 79 

weight  and  stature,  and  drave  him  to  the  earth. 
Then  he  rose  up,  and  let  Hallblithe  rise  also, 
and  took  his  sword  and  gave  it  into  his  hand 
again  and  said :  "  Crag-nester,  thou  art  wrathful, 
but  little.  Now  thou  hast  thy  sword  again  and 
mayst  slay  me  if  thou  wilt.  Yet  not  until  I 
have  spoken  a  word  to  thee :  so  hearken !  or  else 
by  the  Treasure  of  the  Sea  I  will  slay  thee  with 
my  bare  hands.  For  I  am  strong  indeed  in  this 
place  with  my  old  kinsman  beside  me.  Wilt 
thou  hearken.'* " 

"Speak,"  said  Hallblithe,  "I  hearken."  Said 
the  Puny  Fox:  "True  it  is  that  I  lured  thee 
away  from  thy  quest,  and  wore  away  a  year  of 
thy  life.  Yet  true  it  is  also  that  I  repent  me 
thereof,  and  ask  thy  pardon.  What  sayest 
thou.?" 

Hallblithe  spake  not,  but  the  heat  died  out 
of  his  face  and  he  was  become  somewhat  pale. 
Said  the  Puny  Fox :  "  Dost  thou  not  remember, 
O  Raven,  how  thou  badest  me  battle  last  year 
on  the  sea-shore  by  the  side  of  the  Rollers  of 
the  Raven.''  and  how  this  was  to  be  the  prize 
of  battle,  that  the  vanquished  should  serve  the 
vanquisher  year-long,  and  do  all  his  will.'*  And 
now  this  prize  and  more  thou  hast  won  without 
battle;  for  I  swear  by  the  Treasure  of  the  Sea, 
and  by  the  bones  of  the  great  Sea-mew  yonder, 


l80      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

that  I  will  serve  thee  not  year-long  but  life- 
long, and  that  I  will  help  thee  in  thy  quest  for 
thy  beloved.      What  sayest  thou?" 

Hallblithe  stood  speechless  a  moment,  looking 
past  the  Puny  Fox,  rather  than  at  him.  Then 
the  sword  tumbled  out  of  his  hand  on  to  the 
grass,  and  great  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks 
and  fell  on  to  his  raiment,  and  he  reached  out 
his  hand  to  the  Puny  Fox  and  said :  "  O  friend, 
wilt  thou  not  bring  me  to  her.-*  for  the  days 
wear,  and  the  trees  are  growing  old  round  about 
the  Acres  of  the  Raven." 

Then  the  Puny  Fox  took  his  hand,  and  laughed 
merrily  in  his  face,  and  said:  "Great  is  thine 
heart,  O  carrion-biter!  But  now  that  thou  art 
my  friend  I  will  tell  thee  that  I  have  a  deeming 
of  the  whereabouts  of  thy  beloved.  Or  where 
deemest  thou  was  the  garden  wherein  thou  saw- 
est  her  standing  on  the  page  of  the  book  in  that 
dream  of  the  night  .•'  So  it  is,  O  Raven-son,  that 
it  is  not  for  nothing  that  my  grandsire's  father 
lieth  in  yonder  hole  of  the  rocks;  for  of  late  he 
hath  made  me  wise  in  mighty  lore.  Thanks 
have  thou,  O  kinsman ! "  And  he  turned  him 
toward  the  rock  wherein  was  the  grave.  But 
Hallblithe  said:  "What  is  to  do  now.?  Am  I 
not  in  a  land  of  foemen.''" 

"Yea,  forsooth,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  "and  even 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVIXG  MEN.  l8l 

if  thou  knewest  where  thy  love  is,  thou  shouldst 
hardly  escape  from  this  isle  unslain,  save  for 
me." 

Said  Hallblithe :  "  Is  there  not  my  bark,  that 
I  might  depart  at  once .-'  for  I  deem  not  that  the 
Hostage  is  on  the  Isle  of  Ransom." 

The  Puny  Fox  laughed  boisterously  and  said : 
"Nay,  she  is  not.  But  as  to  thy  boat,  there  is 
so  strong  a  set  of  the  flood-tide  toward  this  end 
of  the  isle,  that  with  the  wind  blowing  as  now, 
from  the  north-north-east  thou  mayst  not  get  off 
the  shore  for  four  hours  at  least,  and  I  misdoubt 
me  that  within  that  time  we  shall  have  tidings  of 
a  ship  of  ours  coming  into  the  haven.  Thy  bark 
they  shall  take,  and  thee  also  if  thou  art  therein ; 
and  then  soon  were  the  story  told,  for  they  know 
thee  for  a  rebel  of  the  Undying  King.  Hearken ! 
Dost  thou  not  hear  the  horn's  voice  .-•  Come  up 
hither  and  we  shall  see  what  is  towards." 

So  saying,  he  led  hastily  up  a  kind  of  stair 
in  the  rock-wall,  until  they  reached  a  cranny, 
whence  through  a  hole  in  the  cliff,  they  could 
see  all  over  the  haven.  And  lo !  as  they  looked, 
in  the  very  gate  and  entry  of  it  came  a  great 
ship  heaving  up  her  bows  on  the  last  swell  of 
the  outer  sea  (where  the  wind  had  risen  some- 
what), and  rolling  into  the  smooth,  land-locked 
water.     Black  was  her  sail,  and  the  image  of  the 


lS2      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Sea-eagle  enwrought  thereon  spread  wide  over  it ; 
and  the  banner  of  the  Flaming  Sword  streamed 
out  from  the  stern.  Many  men  all-weaponed 
were  on  the  decks,  and  the  minstrels  high  up 
on  the  poop  were  blowing  a  merry  song  of  return 
on  their  battle-horns. 

"Lo,  you,"  said  the  Puny  Fox,  "thy  luck  or 
mine  hath  served  thee  this  time,  in  that  the 
Flaming  Sword  did  not  overhaul  thee  ere  thou 
madest  the  haven.     We  are  well  here  at  least." 

Said  Hallblithe :  "  But  may  not  some  of  them 
come  up  hither  perchance.''" 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  the  Puny  Fox;  "they  fear 
the  old  man  in  the  cleft  yonder;  for  he  is  not 
over  guest-fain.  This  mead  is  mine  own,  as  for 
other  living  men;  it  is  my  unroofed  house,  and 
I  have  here  a  house  with  a  roof  also,  which  I 
will  show  thee  presently.  For  now  since  the 
Flaming  Sword  hath  come,  there  is  no  need  for 
haste;  nay,  we  cannot  depart  till  they  have  gone 
up-country.  So  I  will  show  thee  presently  what 
we  shall  do  to-night." 

So  there  they  sat  and  watched  those  men  bring 
their  ship  to  the  shore  and  moor  her  hard  by 
Hallblithe's  boat.  They  cried  out  when  they 
saw  her,  and  when  they  were  aland  they  gath- 
ered about  her  to  note  her  build,  and  the  fashion 
of  the  spear  whereto  she  was  tied.      Then  in  a 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  1 83 

while  the  more  part  of  them,  some  four-score 
in  number,  departed  up  the  valley  toward  the 
great  house  and  left  none  but  a  half  dozen  ship- 
warders  behind. 

"Seest  thou,  friend  of  the  Ravens,"  said  the 
Fox,  "hadst  thou  been  there,  they  might  have 
done  with  thee  what  they  would.  Did  I  not 
well  to  bring  thee  into  my  unroofed  house  .^" 

"Yea,  verily,"  said  Hallblithe;  "but  will  not 
some  of  the  ship-wards,  or  some  of  the  others 
returning,  come  up  hither  and  find  us.''  I  shall 
yet  lay  my  bones  in  this  evil  island." 

The  Puny  Fox  laughed,  and  said :  "  It  is  not 
so  bad  as  thy  sour  looks  would  have  it ;  anyhow 
it  is  good  enough  for  a  grave,  and  at  this  present 
I  may  call  it  a  casket  of  precious  things." 

"What  meanest  thou.!*  "  said  Hallblithe  eagerly. 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  the  other,  "nought  but  what 
thou  knowest.  Art  thou  not  therein,  and  I  my- 
self .-^  without  reckoning  the  old  carle  in  the  hole 
yonder.  But  I  promise  thee  thou  shalt  not  die 
here  this  time,  unless  thou  wilt.  And  as  to 
folk  coming  up  hither,  I  tell  thee  again  they 
durst  not;  because  they  fear  my  great-grandsire 
over  much.  Not  that  they  are  far  wrong  therein; 
for  now  he  is  dead,  the  worst  of  him  seemeth  to 
come  out  of  him,  and  he  is  not  easily  dealt  with, 
save  by  one  who  hath  some  share  of  his  wisdom. 


1 84      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLIITERING   PLAIN; 

Thou  thyself  couldst  see  by  my  kinsman,  the 
Sea-eagle,  how  much  of  ill  blood  and  churlish 
malice  there  may  be  in  our  kindred  when  they 
wax  old,  and  loneliness  and  dreariness  taketh 
hold  of  them.  For  I  must  tell  thee  that  I  have 
oft  heard  my  father  say  that  his  father  the  Sea- 
eagle  was  in  his  youth  and  his  prime  blithe  and 
buxom,  a  great  lover  of  women,  and  a  very 
friendly  fellow.  But  ever,  as  I  say,  as  the  men 
of  our  kind  wax  in  years,  they  worsen;  and 
thereby  mayst  thou  deem  how  bad  the  old  man 
in  yonder  must  be,  since  he  hath  lain  so  long 
in  the  grave.  But  now  we  will  go  to  that  house 
of  mine  on  the  other  side  of  the  mead,  over 
against  my  kinsman's." 

Therewith  he  led  Hallblithe  down  from  the 
rock,  while  Hallblithe  said  to  him:  "What!  art 
thou  also  dead  that  thou  hast  a  grave  here }  " 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  Fox,  smiling,  "am  I  so  evil- 
conditioned  then.-*     I  am  no  older  than  thou  art." 

"But  tell  me,"  said  Hallblithe,  "wilt  thou  also 
wax  evil  as  thou  growest  old.^" 

"Maybe  not,"  said  Fox,  looking  hard  at  him, 
"for  in  my  mind  it  is  that  I  may  be  taken  into 
another  house,  and  another  kindred,  and  amongst 
them  I  shall  be  healed  of  much  that  might  turn 
to  ill." 

Therewith   were   they   come   across   the    little 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  185 

meadow  to  a  place  where  was  a  cave  in  the  rock 
closed  with  a  door,  and  a  wicket  window  therein. 
Fox  led  Hallblithe  into  it,  and  within  it  was  no 
ill  dwelling;  for  it  was  dry  and  clean,  and  there 
were  stools  therein  and  a  table,  and  shelves  and 
lockers  in  the  wall.  When  they  had  sat  them  down 
Fox  said:  "Here  mightst  thou  dwell  safely  as 
long  as  thou  wouldst,  if  thou  wouldst  risk  dealings 
with  the  old  carle.  But,  as  I  wot  well  that  thou 
art  in  haste  to  be  gone  and  get  home  to  thy  kin- 
dred, I  must  bring  thee  at  dusk  to  day  close  up 
to  our  feast-hall,  so  that  thou  mayst  be  at  hand 
to  do  what  hath  to  be  done  to-night,  so  that  we 
may  get  us  gone  to-morrow.  Also  thou  must 
do  off  thy  Raven  gear  lest  we  meet  any  in  the 
twilight  as  we  go  up  to  the  house;  and  here  have 
I  to  hand  home-spun  raiment  such  as  our  war- 
taken  thralls  wear,  which  shall  serve  thy  turn 
well  enough;  but  this  thou  needst  not  do  on  till 
the  time  is  at  hand  for  our  departure;  and  then 
I  will  bring  thee  away,  and  bestow  thee  in  a 
bower  hard  by  the  hall ;  and  when  thou  art 
within,  I  may  so  look  to  it  that  none  shall  go 
in  there,  or  if  they  do,  they  shall  see  nought  in 
thee  save  a  carle  known  to  them  by  namei  My 
kinsman  hath  learned  me  to  do  harder  things 
than  this.  But  now  it  is  time  to  eat  and  drink." 
Therewith  he  drew  victual  from  out  a  locker 


l86      THE   STORY    OF  THE  GLI'ITERING   PLAIN; 

and  they  fell  to.  But  when  they  had  eaten,  Fox 
taught  Hallblithe  what  he  should  do  in  the  hall 
that  night,  as  shall  be  told  hereafter.  And  then, 
with  much  talk  about  many  things,  they  wore 
away  the  day  in  that  ancient  cup  of  the  seething 
rock,  and  a  little  before  dusk  set  out  for  the 
hall,  bearing  with  them  Hallblithe's  gear  bun- 
dled up  together,  as  though  it  had  been  wares 
from  over  sea.  So  they  came  to  the  house  before 
the  tables  were  set,  and  the  Puny  Fox  bestowed 
Hallblithe  in  a  bower  which  gave  into  the  but- 
tery, so  that  it  was  easy  to  go  straight  into  the 
mid-most  of  the  hall.  There  was  Hallblithe  clad 
and  armed  in  his  Raven  gear;  but  Fox  gave  him 
a  vizard  to  go  over  his  face,  so  that  none  might 
know  him  when  he  entered  therein. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  1 8/ 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

OF  THE  FIGHT  OF  THE  CHAMPIONS  IN  THE  HALL 
OF  THE   RAVAGERS. 

NOW  it  is  to  be  told  that  the  chieftains  came 
into  the  hall  that  night  and  sat  down  at 
the  board  on  the  dais  even  as  Hallblithe  had 
seen  them  do  aforetime.  And  the  chieftain  of 
all,  who  was  called  the  Erne  of  the  Sea-eagles 
rose  up  according  to  custom  and  said  :  "  Hearken, 
folk!  this  is  a  night  of  the  champions,  whereon 
we  may  not  eat  till  the  pale  blades  have  clashed 
together,  and  one  hath  vanquished  and  another 
been  overcome.  Now  let  them  stand  forth  and 
give  out  the  prize  of  victory  which  the  van- 
quished shall  pay  to  the  vanquisher.  And  let 
it  be  known,  that,  whosoever  may  be  the  cham- 
pion that  winneth  the  battle,  whether  he  be  a 
kinsman,  or  an  alien,  or  a  foeman  declared;  yea, 
though  he  have  left  the  head  of  my  brother  at 
the  hall-door,  he  shall  pass  this  night  with  us 
safe  from  sword,  safe  from  axe,  safe  from  hand : 
he  shall  eat  as  we  eat,  drink  as  we  drink,  sleep 


1 88      THE   STORY    OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

as  we  sleep,  and  depart  safe  from  any  hand  or 
weapon,  and  shall  sail  the  sea  at  his  pleasure 
in  his  own  keel  or  in  ours,  as  to  him  and  us  may 
be  meet.      Blow  up  horns  for  the  champions!  " 

So  the  horns  blew  a  cheerful  strain,  and  when 
they  were  done,  there  came  into  the  hall  a  tall 
man  clad  in  black,  and  with  black  armour  and 
weapons  saving  the  white  blade  of  his  sword. 
He  had  a  vizard  over  his  face,  but  his  hair  came 
down  from  under  his  helm  like  the  tail  of  a  red 
horse. 

So  he  stood  amidst  the  floor  and  cried  out : 
"I  am  the  champion  of  the  Ravagers.  But  I 
swear  by  the  Treasure  of  the  Sea  that  I  will 
cross  no  blade  to-night  save  with  an  alien,  a 
foeman  of  the  kindred.  Hearest  thou,  O  chief- 
tain,  O  Erne  of  the  Sea-eagles.''" 

"Hear  it  I  do,"  said  the  chieftain,  "and  I 
deem  that  thy  meaning  is  that  we  should  go 
supperless  to  bed;  and  this  cometh  of  thy  per- 
versity: for  we  know  thee  despite  thy  vizard. 
Belike  thou  deemest  that  thou  shalt  not  be  met 
this  even,  and  that  there  is  no  free  alien  in  the 
island  to  draw  sword  against  thee.  But  beware ! 
For  when  we  came  aland  this  morning  we  found 
a  skiff  of  the  aliens  tied  to  a  great  spear  stuck 
in  the  bank  of  the  haven;  so  that  there  will  be 
one  foeman  at  least  abroad  in  the   island.      But 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 89 

we  said  that  if  we  should  come  on  the  man,  we 
would  set  his  head  on  the  gable  of  the  hall  with 
the  mouth  open  toward  the  North  for  a  token 
of  reproach  to  the  dwellers  in  the  land  over  sea. 
But  now  give  out  the  prize  of  victory,  and  I 
swear  by  the  Treasure  of  the  Sea  that  we  will 
abide  by  thy  word." 

Said  the  champion:  "These  are  the  terms  and 
conditions  of  the  battle;  that  whichso  of  us  is 
vanquished,  he  shall  either  die,  or  serve  the 
vanquisher  for  twelve  moons,  to  fare  with  him 
at  his  will,  to  go  his  errands,  and  do  according 
to  his  commandment  in  all  wise.  Hearest  thou, 
chieftain }  " 

"Yea,"  said  he,  "and  by  the  Undying  King, 
both  thou  and  we  shall  abide  by  this  bargain. 
So  look  to  it  that  thou  smite  great  strokes,  lest 
our  hall  lack  a  gable-knop.  Horns,  blow  up 
for  the  alien  champion ! "  So  again  the  horns 
were  winded;  and  ere  their  voice  had  died,  in 
from  the  buttery  screens  came  a  glittering  image 
of  war,  and  there  stood  the  alien  champion  over 
against  the  warrior  of  the  sea;  and  he  too  had 
a  vizard  over  his  face. 

Now  when  the  folk  saw  him,  and  how  slim 
and  light  and  small  he  looked  beside  their  cham- 
pion, and  they  beheld  the  Raven  painted  on  his 
white  shield,  they  hooted  and  laughed  for  scorn 


190      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

of  him  and  his  littleness.  But  he  tossed  his 
sword  up  lightly  and  caught  it  by  the  hilts  as  it 
fell,  and  drew  nigher  to  the  champion  of  the 
sea  and  stood  facing  him  within  reach  of  his 
sword.  Then  the  chieftain  on  the  high-seat  put 
his  two  hands  to  his  mouth  and  roared  out : 
"Fall  on,  ye  champions,   fall  on!" 

But  the  folk  in  the  hall  were  so  eager  that  they 
stood  on  the  benches  and  the  boards,  and  craned 
over  each  other's  shoulders,  so  that  they  might 
lose  no  whit  of  the  hand-play.  Now  flashed  the 
blades  in  the  candle-lit  hall,  and  the  red-haired 
champion  hove  up  his  sword  and  smote  two  great 
strokes  to  right  and  to  left ;  but  the  alien  gave 
way  before  him,  and  the  folk  cried  out  at  him 
in  scorn  and  in  joy  of  their  champion,  who  fell 
to  raining  down  great  strokes  like  the  hail  amidst 
the  lightning.  But  so  deft  was  the  alien,  that 
he  stood  amidst  it  unhurt,  and  laid  many  strokes 
on  his  foeman,  and  did  all  so  lightly  and  easily, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  dancing  rather  than 
fighting;  and  the  folk  held  their  peace  and  began 
to  doubt  if  their  huge  champion  would  prevail. 
Now  the  red-haired  fetched  a  mighty  stroke  at 
the  alien,  who  leapt  aside  lightly  and  gat  his 
sword  in  his  left  hand  and  dealt  a  great  stroke 
on  the  other's  head,  and  the  red-haired  stag- 
gered,   for   he    had    over-reached    himself;    and 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  191 

again  the  alien  smote  him  a  left-handed  stroke 
so  that  he  fell  full  length  on  the  floor  with  a 
mighty  clatter,  and  the  sword  flew  out  of  his 
hand :  and  the  folk  were  dumb-founded. 

Then  the  alien  threw  himself  on  the  sea- 
champion,  and  knelt  upon  him,  and  shortened 
his  sword  as  if  to  slay  him  with  a  thrust.  But 
thereon  the  man  overthrown  cried  out :  "  Hold 
thine  hand,  for  I  am  vanquished !  Now  give  me 
peace  according  to  the  bargain  struck  between 
us,  that  I  shall  serve  thee  year-long,  and  follow 
thee  wheresoever  thou  goest. " 

Therewith  the  alien  champion  arose  and  stood 
off  from  him,  and  the  man  of  the  sea  gat  to  his 
feet,  and  did  off  his  helm,  so  that  all  men  could 
see  that  he  was  the  Puny  Fox. 

Then  the  victorious  champion  unhelmed  him- 
self, and  lo,  it  was  Hallblithe !  And  a  shout 
arose  in  the  hall,  part  of  wonder,  part  of  wrath. 

Then  cried  out  the  Puny  Fox:  "I  call  on  all 
men  here  to  bear  witness  that  by  reason  of  this 
battle,  Hallblithe  of  the  Ravens  is  free  to  come 
and  go  as  he  will  in  the  Isle  of  Ransom,  and  to 
take  help  of  any  man  that  will  help  him,  and  to 
depart  from  the  isle  when  he  will  and  how  he 
will,   taking  me  with  him  if  so  he  will." 

Said  the  chieftain:  "Yea,  this  is  right  and 
due,  and  so  shall  it  be.     But  nov/,  since  no  free- 


192      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

man,  who  is  not  a  foe  of  the  passing  hour,  may 
abide  in  our  hall  without  eating  of  our  meat, 
come  up  here,  Hallblithe,  and  sit  by  me,  and 
eat  and  drink  of  the  best  we  have,  since  the 
Norns  would  not  give  us  thine  head  for  a  gable- 
knop.  But  what  wilt  thou  do  with  thy  thrall 
the  Puny  Fox;  and  whereto  in  the  hall  wilt 
thou  have  him  shown?  Or  wilt  thou  that  he 
sit  fasting  in  the  darkness  to-night,  laid  in  gyves 
and  fetters?  Or  shall  he  have  the  cheer  of 
whipping  and  stripes,  as  befitteth  a  thrall  to 
whom  the  master  oweth  a  grudge?  What  is 
thy  will  with  him?" 

Said  Hallblithe:  "My  will  is  that  thou  give 
him  a  seat  next  to  me,  whether  that  be  high  or 
low,  or  the  bench  of  thy  prison-house.  That 
he  eat  of  my  dish,  and  drink  of  my  cup,  whatso- 
ever the  meat  and  drink  may  be.  For  to-morrow 
I  mean  that  we  twain  shall  go  under  the  earth- 
collar  together,  and  that  our  blood  shall  run 
together  and  that  we  shall  be  brothers  in  arms 
henceforward."  Then  Hallblithe  did  on  his 
helm  again  and  drew  his  sword,  and  looked  aside 
to  the  Puny  Fox  to  bid  him  do  the  like,  and  he 
did  so,  and  Hallblithe  said:  "Chieftain,  thou 
hast  bidden  me  to  table,  and  I  thank  thee;  but 
I  will  not  set  my  teeth  in  meat,  out  of  our  own 
house  and  land,  which  hath  not  been  truly  given 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   xMEN.  193 

to  me  by  one  who  wotteth  of  me,  unless  I  have 
conquered  it  as  a  prey  of  battle;  neither  will  I 
cast  a  lie  into  the  loving-cup  which  shall  pass 
from  thy  lips  to  mine:  therefore  I  will  tell  thee, 
that  though  I  laid  a  stroke  or  two  on  the  Puny 
Fox,  and  those  no  light  ones,  yet  was  this  battle 
nought  true  and  real,  but  a  mere  beguiling,  even 
as  that  which  I  saw  foughten  in  this  hall  afore- 
time, when  meseemeth  the  slain  men  rose  up  in 
time  to  drink  the  good-night  cup.  Therefore, 
O  men  of  the  Ravagers,  and  thou,  O  Puny  Fox, 
there  is  nought  to  bind  your  hands  and  refrain 
your  hearts,  and  ye  may  slay  me  if  ye  will  with- 
out murder  or  dishonour,  and  may  make  the  head 
of  Hallblithe  a  knop  for  your  feast-hall.  Yet 
shall  one  or  or  two  fall  to  earth  before  I  fall." 

Therewith  he  shook  his  sword  aloft,  and  a 
great  roar  arose,  and  weapons  came  down  from  the 
wall,  and  the  candles  shone  on  naked  steel.  But 
the  Puny  Fox  came  and  stood  by  Hallblithe,  and 
spake  in  his  ear  amidst  the  uproar:  "Well  now, 
brother-in-arms,  I  have  been  trying  to  learn  thee 
the  lore  of  lies  and  surely  thou  art  the  worst 
scholar  who  was  ever  smitten  by  master.  And 
the  outcome  of  it  is  that  I,  who  have  lied  so 
long  and  well,  must  now  pay  for  all,  and  die  for 
a  barren  truth." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "Let  all  be  as  it  will!  I 
13 


194      THE   STORV   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

love  thee,  lies  and  all;  but  as  for  me  I  cannot 
handle  them.  Lo  you!  great  and  grim  shall  be 
the  slaying,  and  we  shall  not  fall  unavenged. " 

Said  the  Puny  Fox:  "Hearken!  for  still  they 
hang  back.  Belike  it  is  I  that  have  drawn  this 
death  on  thee  and  me.  My  last  lie  was  a  fool's 
lie  and  we  die  for  it:  for  what  wouldst  thou  have 
done  hadst  thou  wotted  that  thy  beloved,  the 
Hostage  of  the  Rose :  "  —  He  broke  off  per- 
force; for  Hallblithe  was  looking  to  right  and 
left  and  handling  his  sword,  and  heard  not  that 
last  word  of  his;  and  from  both  sides  of  the 
hall  the  throng  was  drawing  round  about  those 
twain,  weapon  in  hand.  Then  Hallblithe  set  his 
eyes  on  a  big  man  in  front  who  was  heaving  up  a 
heavy  short-sword  and  thought  that  he  would  at 
least  slay  this  one.  But  or  ever  he  might  smite, 
the  great  horn  blared  out  over  the  tumult,  and 
men  forebore  a  while  and  fell  somewhat  silent. 

Then  came  down  to  them  the  voice  of  the 
chieftain,  a  loud  voice,  but  clear  and  with  mirth 
mingled  with  anger  in  it,  and  he  said:  "What 
do  these  fools  of  the  Ravagers  cumbering  the 
floor  of  the  feast-hall,  and  shaking  weapons  when 
there  is  no  foeman  anigh.''  Are  they  dreaming- 
drunk  before  the  wine  is  poured .-'  Why  do  they 
not  sit  down  in  their  places,  and  abide  the  bring- 
ing in  of  the  meat.-*     And  ye  women,  where  are 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 95 

ye,  why  do  ye  delay  our  meat,  when  ye  may  well 
wot  that  our  hearts  are  drooping  for  hunger;  and 
all  hath  been  duly  done,  the  battle  of  the  cham- 
pions fought  and  won,  and  the  prize  of  war  given 
forth  and  taken?  How  long,  O  folk,  shall  your 
chieftain  sit  fasting?  " 

Then  there  arose  great  laughter  in  the  hall, 
and  men  withdrew  them  from  those  twain  and 
went  and  sat  them  down  in  their  places. 

Then  the  chieftain  said :  "  Come  up  hither,  I 
say,  O  Hallblithe,  and  bring  thy  war-thrall  with 
thee  if  thou  wilt.  But  delay  not,  unless  it  be 
so  that  thou  art  neither  hungry  nor  thirsty;  and 
good  sooth  thou  shouldst  be  both ;  for  men  say 
that  the  ravens  are  hard  to  satisfy.  Come  then 
and  make  good  cheer  with  us !  "  So  Hallblithe 
thrust  his  sword  into  the  sheath,  and  the  Puny 
Fox  did  the  like,  and  they  went  both  together 
up  the  hall  to  the  high-seat.  And  Hallblithe  sat 
down  on  the  chieftain's  right  hand,  and  the  Puny 
Fox  next  to  him ;  and  the  chieftain,  the  Erne,  said : 
"  O  Hallblithe,  dost  thou  need  thine  armour  at 
table;  or  dost  thou  find  it  handy  to  take  thy  meat 
clad  in  thy  byrny  and  girt  with  a  sword?" 

Then  laughed  Hallblithe  and  said:  "Nay,  me- 
seemeth  to-night  I  shall  need  war-gear  no  more." 
And  he  stood  up  and  did  off  all  his  armour  and 
gave  it,  sword  and  all,  into  the  hands  of  a  woman, 


196      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

who  bore  it  off,  he  knew  not  whither.  And  the 
Erne  looked  on  him  and  said:  "Well  is  that! 
and  now  I  see  that  thou  art  a  fair  young  man, 
and  it  is  no  marvel  though  maidens  desire  thee." 
As  he  spake  came  in  the  damsels  with  the  victual, 
and  the  cheer  was  exceeding  good,  and  Hallblithe 
grew  light-hearted. 

But  when  the  healths  had  been  drunk  as  afore- 
time, and  men  had  drunk  a  cup  or  two  there- 
after, there  rose  a  warrior  from  one  of  the 
endlong  benches,  a  big  young  man,  black -haired 
and  black-bearded,  ruddy  of  visage,  and  he  said 
in  a  voice  that  was  rough  and  fat :  "  O  Erne, 
and  ye  other  chieftains,  we  have  been  talking 
here  at  our  table  concerning  this  guest  of  thine 
who  hath  beguiled  us,  and  we  are  not  wholly 
at  one  with  thee  as  to  thy  dealings  with  him. 
True  it  is,  now  that  the  man  hath  our  meat  in 
his  belly,  that  he  must  depart  from  amongst  us 
with  a  whole  skin,  unless  of  his  own  will  he 
stand  up  to  fight  some  man  of  us  here.  Yet 
some  of  us  think  that  he  is  not  so  much  our 
friend  that  we  should  help  him  to  a  keel  whereon 
to  fare  home  to  those  that  hate  us :  and  we  say 
that  it  would  not  be  unlawful  to  let  the  man 
abide  in  the  isle,  and  proclaim  him  a  wolf's- 
head  within  a  half -moon  of  to-day.  Or  what 
say  est  thou.-* " 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 97 

Said  the  Erne:  "Wait  for  my  word  a  while, 
and  hearken  to  another!  Is  the  Grey-goose  of 
the  Ravagers  in  the  hall?  Let  him  give  out  his 
word  on  this  matter." 

Then  arose  a  white-headed  carle  from  a  table 
nigh  to  the  dais,  whose  black  raiment  was  well 
adorned  with  gold.  Despite  his  years  his  face 
was  fair  and  little  wrinkled ;  a  man  with  a 
straight  nose  and  a  well-fashioned  mouth,  and 
with  eyes  still  bright  and  grey.  He  spake :  "  O 
folk,  I  find  that  the  Erne  hath  done  well  in 
cherishing  this  guest.  For  first,  if  he  hath  be- 
guiled us,  he  did  it  not  save  by  the  furtherance 
and  sleight  of  our  own  kinsman;  therefore  if 
any  one  is  to  die  for  beguiling  us,  let  it  be  the 
Puny  Fox.  Secondly,  we  may  well  wot  that 
heavy  need  hath  driven  the  man  to  this  beguile- 
ment ;  and  I  say  that  it  was  no  unmanly  deed  for 
him  to  enter  our  hall  and  beguile  us  with  his 
sleight;  and  that  he  hath  played  out  the  play 
right  well  and  cunningly  with  the  wisdom  of  a 
warrior.  Thirdly,  the  manliness  of  him  is  well 
proven,  in  that  having  overcome  us  in  sleight, 
he  hath  spoken  out  the  sooth  concerning  our 
beguilement  and  hath  made  himself  our  foeman 
and  captive,  when  he  might  have  sat  down  by 
us  as  our  guest,  freely  and  in  all  honour.  And 
this  he  did,   not  as   contemning  the    Puny   Fox 


198      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

and  his  lies  and  crafty  wiles  (for  he  hath  told 
us  that  he  loveth  him) ;  but  so  that  he  might 
show  himself  a  man  in  that  which  trieth  man- 
hood. Moreover  ye  shall  not  forget  that  he  is 
the  rebel  of  the  Undying  King,  who  is  our  lord 
and  master;  therefore  in  cherishing  him  we  show 
ourselves  great-hearted,  in  that  we  fear  not  the 
wrath  of  our  master.  Therefore  I  naysay  the 
word  of  the  War-brand  that  we  should  make 
this  man  a  wolf's-head;  for  in  so  doing  we  shall 
show  ourselves  lesser-hearted  than  he  is,  and  of 
no  account  beside  of  him;  and  his  head  on  our 
hall-gable  should  be  to  us  a  nithing-stake,  and 
a  tree  of  reproach.  So  I  bid  thee,  O  Erne,  to 
make  much  of  this  man;  and  thou  shalt  do  well 
to  give  him  worthy  gifts,  such  as  warriors  may 
take,  so  that  he  may  show  them  at  home  in  the 
House  of  the  Raven,  that  it  may  be  the  begin- 
ning of  peace  betwixt  us  and  his  noble  kindred. 
This  is  my  say,  and  later  on  I  shall  wax  no 
wiser." 

Therewith  he  sat  down,  and  there  arose  a  mur- 
mur and  stir  in  the  hall;  but  the  more  part  said 
that  the  Grey-goose  had  spoken  well,  and  that 
it  was  good  to  be  at  peace  with  such  manly 
fellows  as  the  new  guest  was. 

But  the  Erne  said :  "  One  word  will  I  lay 
hereto,    to  wit,    that  he  who  desircth  mine   en- 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  1 99 

mity  let  him  do  scathe  to  Hallblithe  of  the 
Ravens  and  hinder  him."  Then  he  bade  fill 
round  the  cups,  and  called  a  health  to  Hall- 
blithe,  and  all  men  drank  to  him,  and  there 
was  much  joyance  and  merriment. 

But  when  the  night  was  well  worn,  the  Erne 
turned  to  Hallblithe  and  said:  "That  was  a  good 
word  of  the  Grey-goose  which  he  spake  concern- 
ing the  giving  of  gifts :  Raven-son,  wilt  thou 
take  a  gift  of  me  and  be  my  friend  ? " 

"Thy  friend  will  I  be,"  said  Hallblithe,  "but 
no  gift  will  I  take  of  thee  or  any  other  till  I 
have  the  gift  of  gifts,  and  that  is  my  troth-plight 
maiden.  I  will  not  be  glad  till  I  can  be  glad 
with  her."  Then  laughed  the  Erne,  and  the 
Puny  Fox  grinned  all  across  his  wide  face,  and 
Hallblithe  looked  from  one  to  the  other  of  them 
and  wondered  at  their  mirth,  and  when  they  saw 
his  wondering  eyes,  they  did  but  laugh  the  more ; 
and  the  Erne  said :  "  Nevertheless,  thou  shalt  see 
the  gift  which  I  would  give  thee;  and  then  mayst 
thou  take  it  or  leave  it  as  thou  wilt.  Ho  ye! 
bring  in  the  throne  of  the  Eastland,  with  them 
that  minister  to  it ! "  Certain  men  left  the  hall 
as  he  spake,  and  came  back  bearing  with  them 
a  throne  fashioned  most  goodly  of  ivory,  parcel - 
gilt  and  begemmed,  and  adorned  with  marvellous 
craftsmanship:  and  they  set  it  down   amidst   of 


200     THE   STORY   OF  THE  GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  hall-floor  and  went  aback  to  their  places, 
while  the  Erne  sat  and  smiled  kindly  on  the  folk 
and  on  Hallblithc.  Then  arose  the  sound  of 
fiddles  and  the  lesser  harp,  and  the  doors  of  the 
screen  were  opened,  and  there  flowed  into  the 
hall  a  company  of  fair  damsels  not  less  than  a 
score,  each  one  with  "a  rose  on  her  bosom,  and 
they  came  and  stood  in  order  behind  the  throne 
of  the  Eastlands,  and  they  strewed  roses  on  the 
ground  before  them :  and  when  they  were  duly 
ranged  they  fell  to  singing: 

Now  waneth  spring. 
While  all  birds  sing, 
And  the  south  wind  blows 
The  earliest  rose 
To  and  fro 

By  the  doors  we  know. 
And  the  scented  gale 
Fills  every  dale. 

Slow  now  are  brooks  running 

because  of  the  weed. 

And  the  thrush  hath  no  cunning 

to  hide  her  at  need. 

So  swift  as  she  flieth 

from  hedge-row  to  tree, 

As  one  that  toil  trieth, 

and  deedful  must  be. 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  201 

And  O  !  that  at  last, 
All  sorrows  past, 
This  night  I  lay 
'Neath  the  oak-beams  grey  ! 
O,  to  wake  from  sleep, 
To  see  dawn  creep 
Through  the  fruitful  grove 
Of  the  house  that  I  love  ! 

O  !  my  feet  to  be  treading 

the  threshold  once  more, 

O'er  which  once  went  the  leading 

of  swords  to  the  war  ! 

O  !  my  feet  in  the  garden's 

edge  under  the  sun. 

Where  the  seeding  grass  hardens 

for  haysel  begun  ! 

Lo,  lo  !  the  wind  blows 
To  the  heart  of  the  Rose, 
And  the  ship  lies  tied 
To  the  haven  side  ! 
But  O  for  the  keel 
The  sails  to  feel ! 
And  the  alien  ness 
Growing  less  and  less ; 

As  down  the  wind  driveth 
and  thrusts  through  the  sea 
The  sail-burg  that  striveth 
to  turn  and  go  free. 


202      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

But  the  lads  at  the  tiller 
they  hold  her  in  hand, 
And  the  wind  our  well-wilier 
drives  fierce  to  the  land. 

We  shall  wend  it  yet, 
The  highway  wet ; 
For  what  is  this 
That  our  bosoms  kiss? 
What  lieth  sweet 
Before  our  feet? 
What  token  hath  come 
To  lead  us  home? 

'T  is  the  Rose  of  the  garden 
Walled  round  from  the  croft 
Where  the  grey  roof  its  warden 
steep  riseth  aloft, 
'Tis  the  rose  'neath  the  oaken- 
beamed  hall,  where  they  bide, 
The  pledges  unbroken, 
the  hand  of  the  bride. 

Hallbithe  heard  the  song,  and  half  thought  it 
promised  him  somewhat ;  but  then  he  had  been 
so  misled  and  mocked  at,  that  he  scarce  knew 
how  to  rejoice  at  it. 

Now  the  Erne  spake :  "  Wilt  thou  not  take 
the  chair  and  these  dainty  song-birds  that  stand 
about  it?     Much  wealth  might  come   into  thine 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  203 

hall  if  thou  wert  to  carry  them  over  sea  to  rich 
men  who  have  no  kindred,  nor  affinity  wherein 
to  wed,  but  who  love  women  as  well  as  other 
men." 

Said  Hallblithe:  "I  have  wealth  enow  were 
I  once  home  again.  As  to  these  maidens,  I 
know  by  the  fashion  of  them  that  they  are  no 
women  of  the  Rose,  as  by  their  song  they  should 
be.  Yet  will  I  take  any  of  these  maidens  that 
have  will  to  go  with  me  and  be  made  sisters  of 
my  sisters,  and  wed  with  the  warriors  of  the 
Rose;  or  if  they  are  of  a  kindred,  and  long  to 
sit  each  in  the  house  of  her  folk,  then  will  we 
send  them  home  over  the  sea  with  warriors  to 
guard  them  from  all  trouble.  For  this  gift  I 
thank  thee.  As  to  thy  throne,  I  bid  thee  keep 
it  till  a  keel  cometh  thy  way  from  our  land, 
bringing  fair  gifts  for  thee  and  thine.  For  we 
are  not  so  unwealthy. " 

Those  that  sat  nearby  heard  his  words  and 
praised  them;  but  the  Erne  said:  "All  this  is 
free  to  thee,  and  thou  mayst  do  what  thou  wilt 
with  the  gifts  given  to  thee.  Yet  shalt  thou  have 
the  throne ;  and  I  have  thought  of  a  way  to  make 
thee  take  it.      Or  what  sayst  thou,  Puny  Fox.?/' 

Said  the  Puny  Fox :  "  Yea  if  thou  wilt,  thou 
mayst,  but  I  thought  it  not  of  thee  that  thou 
wouldst.     Now  is  all  well." 


204      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

Again  Hallblithe  looked  from  one  to  the  other 
and  wondered  what  they  meant.  But  the  Erne 
cried  out :  "  Bring  in  now  the  sitter,  who  shall 
fill  the  empty  throne !  " 

Then  again  the  screen  doors  opened,  and  there 
came  in  two  weaponed  men,  leading  between 
them  a  woman  clad  in  gold  and  garlanded  with 
roses.  So  fair  was  the  fashion  of  her  face  and 
all  her  body,  that  her  coming  seemed  to  make 
a  change  in  the  hall,  as  though  the  sun  had 
shone  into  it  suddenly.  She  trod  the  hall  floor 
with  firm  feet,  and  sat  down  on  the  ivory  chair. 
But  even  before  she  was  seated  therein  Hall- 
blithe  knew  that  the  Hostage  was  under  that 
roof  and  coming  toward  him.  And  the  heart 
rose  in  his  breast  and  fluttered  therein,  so  sore 
he  yearned  toward  the  Daughter  of  the  Rose, 
and  his  very  speech-friend.  Then  he  heard  the 
Erne  saying,  "  How  now,  Raven-son,  wilt  thou 
have  the  throne  and  the  sitter  therein,  or  wilt 
thou  gainsay  me  once  more.-'" 

Thereafter  he  himself  spake,  and  the  sound  of 
his  voice  was  strange  to  him  and  as  if  he  knew 
it  not :  "  Chieftain,  I  will  not  gainsay  thee,  but 
will  take  thy  gift,  and  thy  friendship  therewith, 
whatsoever  hath  betided.  Yet  would  I  say  a 
word  or  two  unto  the  woman  that  sitteth  yon- 
der.    For  I  have  been   straying   amongst  wiles 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  205 

and  images,  and  mayhappen  I  shall  yet  find  this 
to  be  but  a  dream  of  the  night,  or  a  beguilement 
of  the  day. "  Therewith  he  arose  from  the  table, 
and  walked  slowly  down  the  hall ;  but  it  was  a 
near  thing  that  he  did  not  fall  a  weeping  before 
all  those  aliens,  so  full  his  heart  was. 

He  came  and  stood  before  the  Hostage,  and 
their  eyes  were  upon  each  other,  and  for  a  little 
while  they  had  no  words.  Then  Hallblithe  be- 
gan, wondering  at  his  voice  as  he  spake:  "Art 
thou  a  woman  and  my  speech-friend.-'  For  many 
images  have  mocked  me,  and  I  have  been  encom- 
passed with  lies,  and  led  astray  by  behests  that 
have  not  been  fulfilled.  And  the  world  hath 
become  strange  to  me,  and  empty  of  friends." 

Then  she  said:  "Art  thou  verily  Hallblithe.? 
For  I  also  have  been  encompassed  by  lies,  and 
beset  by  images  of  things  unhelpful." 

"Yea,"  said  he,  "I  am  Hallblithe  of  the  Ra- 
vens, wearied  with  desire  for  my  troth-plight 
maiden."  Then  came  the  rosy  colour  into  the 
fairness  of  her  face,  as  the  rising  sun  lighteth 
the  garden  of  flowers  in  the  June  morning;  and 
she  said :  "  If  thou  art  Hallblithe,  tell  me  what 
befell  to  the  finger-gold-ring  that  my  mother  gave 
me  when  we  were  both  but  little." 

Then  his  face  grew  happy,  and  he  smiled,  and 
he  said :    "  I  put  it  for  thee   one  autumntide   in 


206      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

the  snake's  hole  in  the  bank  above  the  river, 
amidst  the  roots  of  the  old  thorn  tree,  that  the 
snake  might  brood  it,  and  make  the  gold  grow 
greater;  but  when  winter  was  over  and  we  came 
to  look  for  it,  lo !  there  was  neither  ring  nor 
snake,  nor  thorn  tree :  for  the  flood  had  washed 
it  all  away." 

Thereat  she  smiled  most  sweetly,  and  whereas 
she  had  been  looking  on  him  hitherto  with 
strained  and  anxious  eyes,  she  now  beheld  him 
simply  and  friendly;  and  she  said:  "O  Hall- 
blithe,  I  am  a  woman  indeed,  and  thy  speech- 
friend.  This  is  the  flesh  that  desireth  thee, 
and  the  life  that  is  thine,  and  the  heart  which 
thou  rejoicest.  But  now  tell  me,  who  are  these 
huge  images  around  us,  amongst  whom  I  have 
sat  thus,  once  in  every  moon  this  year  past,  and 
afterwards  I  was  taken  back  to  the  women's 
bower .''  Are  they  men  or  mountain  giants .''  Will 
they  slay  us,  or  shut  us  up  from  the  light  and 
air.?  Or  hast  thou  made  peace  with  them?  Wilt 
thou  then  dwell  with  me  here,  or  shall  we  go 
back  again  to  Cleveland  by  the  Sea.-*  And  when, 
oh,  when  shall  we  depart.?" 

He  smiled  and  said:  "Quick  come  thy  ques- 
tions, beloved.  These  are  the  folks  of  the  Rav- 
agers  and  the  Sea- eagles:  they  be  men,  though 
fierce  and  wild  they  be.       Our  foes   they  have 


OR,  THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  20^ 

been,  and  have  sundered  us ;  but  now  are  they 
our  friends,  and  have  brought  us  together.  And 
to-morrow,  O  friend,  shall  we  depart  across  the 
waters  to  Cleveland  by  the  Sea." 

She  leaned  forward,  and  was  about  to  speak 
softly  to  him,  but  suddenly  started  back,  and 
said :  "  There  is  a  big,  red-haired  man,  as  big 
as  any  here,  behind  thy  shoulder.  Is  he  also 
a  friend  .-•     What  would  he  with  us }  " 

So  Hallblithe  turned  about,  and  beheld  the 
Puny  Fox  beside  him,  who  took  up  the  word  and 
spoke,  smiling  as  a  man  in  great  glee:  "O 
maiden  of  the  Rose,  I  am  Hallblithe's  thrall, 
and  his  scholar,  to  unlearn  the  craft  of  lying, 
whereby  I  have  done  amiss  towards  both  him 
and  thee.  Whereof  I  will  tell  thee  all  the  tale 
soon.  But  now  I  will  say  that  it  is  true  that 
we  depart  to-morrow  for  Cleveland  by  the  Sea, 
thou  and  he,  and  I  in  company.  Now  I  would 
ask  thee,  Hallblithe,  if  thou  wouldst  have  me 
bestow  this  gift  of  thine  in  safe -keeping  to- 
night, since  there  is  an  end  of  her  sitting  in  the 
hall  like  a  graven  image:  and  to-morrow  the  way 
will  be  long  and  wearisome.  What  sayest  thou.-*  " 

Said  the  Hostage :  "  Shall  I  trust  this  man  and 
go  with  him  ?  " 

"Yea,  thou  shalt  trust  him,"  said  Hallblithe, 
"for  he   is  trusty.       And  even  were  he  not,    it 


208      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

is  meet  for  us  of  the  Raven  and  the  Rose  to  do 
as  our  worth  biddeth  us,  and  not  to  fear  this 
folk.  And  it  behoveth  us  to  do  after  their  cus- 
toms since  we  are  in  their  house." 

"That  is  sooth,"  she  said;  "big  man,  lead  me 
out  of  the  hall  to  my  place.  Farewell,  Hall- 
blithe,  for  a  little  while,  and  then  shall  there 
be  no  more  sundering  for  us." 

Therewith  she  departed  with  the  Puny  Fo.x, 
and  Hallblithe  went  back  to  the  high-seat  and 
sat  down  by  the  Erne,  who  laughed  on  him  and 
said:  "Thou  hast  taken  my  gift,  and  that  is 
well:  yet  shall  I  tell  thee  that  I  would  not  have 
given  it  to  thee  if  I  could  have  kept  it  for  myself 
in  such  plight  as  thou  wilt  have  it.  But  all  I 
could  do,  and  the  Puny  Fox  to  help  withal,  availed 
me  nought.  So  good  luck  go  with  thine  hands. 
Now  will  we  to  bed,  and  to-morrow  I  will  lead 
thee  out  on  thy  way ;  for  to  say  sooth,  there  be 
some  here  who  are  not  well  pleased  with  either 
thee  or  me;  and  thou  knowest  that  words  are 
wasted  on  wilful  men,  but  that  deeds  may  avail 
somewhat."  Therewith  he  cried  out  for  the  cup 
of  good-night,  and  when  it  was  drunken,  Hall- 
blithe  was  shown  to  a  fair  shut-bed;  even  that 
wherein  he  had  lain  aforetime;  and  there  he 
went  to  sleep  in  joy,  and  in  good  liking  with 
all  men. 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING  MEN.  209 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THEY  GO  FROM  THE  ISLE  OF  RANSOM  AND  COME 
TO  CLEVELAND  BY  THE  SEA. 

TN  the  morning  early  Hallblithe  arose  from  his 
bed,  and  when  he  came  into  the  mid-hall, 
there  was  the  Puny  Fox  and  the  Hostage  with 
him;  Hallblithe  kissed  her  and  embraced  her, 
and  she  him ;  yet  not  like  lovers  long  sundered, 
but  as  a  man  and  maid  betrothed  are  wont  to  do, 
for  there  were  folk  coming  and  going  about  the 
hall.  Then  spake  the  Puny  Fox:  "The  Erne 
is  abiding  us  out  in  the  meadow  yonder;  for 
now  nought  will  serve  him  but  he  must  needs 
go  under  the  earth-collar  with  us.  How  sayest 
thou,  is  he  enough  thy  friend .-' "  Said  Hall- 
blithe, smiling  on  the  Hostage:  "What  hast 
thou  to  say  to  it,  beloved.?"  "Nought  at  all," 
she  said,  "  if  thou  art  friend  to  any  of  these 
men.  I  may  deem  that  I  have  somewhat  against 
the  chieftain,  whereof  belike  this  big  man  may 
tell  thee  hereafter;  but  even  so  much  meseemeth 
I  have  against  this  man  himself,  who  is  now  be- 

H 


2IO      THE   STORY   OF  THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

come  thy  friend  and  scholar;  for  he  also  strove 
for  my  beguilement,  and  that  not  for  himself, 
but  for  another." 

"True  it  is,"  said  the  Fox,  "that  I  did  it  for 
another;  even  as  yesterday  I  took  thy  mate  Hall- 
blithe  out  of  the  trap  whereinto  he  had  strayed, 
and  compassed  his  deliverance  by  means  of  the 
unfaithful  battle;  and  even  as  I  would  have  stolen 
thee  for  him,  O  Rose-maiden,  if  need  had  been; 
yea,  even  if  I  must  have  smitten  into  ruin  the 
roof-tree  of  the  Ravagers.  And  how  could  I  tell 
that  the  Erne  would  give  thee  up  unstolen  ? 
Yea,  thou  sayeth  sooth,  O  noble  and  spotless 
maiden ;  all  my  deeds,  both  good  and  ill,  have  I 
done  for  others;  and  so  I  deem  it  shall  be  while 
my  life  lasteth. " 

Then  Hallblithe  laughed  and  said:  "Art  thou 
nettled,  fellow-in-arms,  at  the  word  of  a  woman 
who  knoweth  thee  not?  She  shall  yet  be  thy 
friend,  O  Fox.  But  tell  me,  beloved,  I  deemed 
that  thou  hadst  not  seen  Fox  before;  how  then 
can  he  have  helped  the  Erne  against  thee.'*" 

"Yet  she  sayeth  sooth,"  said  Fox,  "this  was 
of  my  sleight :  for  when  I  had  to  come  before 
her,  I  changed  my  skin,  as  I  well  know  how; 
there  are  others  in  this  land  who  can  do  so  much 
as  that.  But  what  sayest  thou  concerning  the 
brotherhood  with  the  Erne  .-* " 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF  LIVING  MEN.  211 

"Let  it  be  so,"  said  Hallblithe,  "he  is  manly 
and  true,  though  masterful,  and  is  meet  for  this 
land  of  his.  I  shall  not  fall  out  with  him ;  for  sel- 
dom meseemeth  shall  I  see  the  Isle  of  Ransom." 

"And  I  never  again,"  said  the  Puny  Fox. 

"Dost  thou  loathe  it,  then,"  said  the  Hostage, 
"because  of  the  evil  thou  hast  done  therein.''" 

"Nay,"  said  he,  "what  is  the  evil,  when  hence- 
forth I  shall  do  but  good.-*     Nay,  I  love  the  land. 
Belike  thou  deemest  it  but  dreary  with  its  black 
rocks  and   black  sand,    and  treeless    wind-swept 
dales;  but  I  know  it  in  summer  and  winter,  and 
sun  and  shade,  in  storm  and  calm.      And  I  know   j 
where   the   fathers   dwelt  and  the  sons  of  their 
sons'  sons  have  long  lain  in  the  earth.      I  have  , 
sailed  its  windiest  firths,  and  climbed  its  steep-   ' 
est  crags;  and  ye  may  well  wot  that   it  hath  a 
friendly  face  to  me;  and  the  land-wights  of  the  ] 
mountains  will  be  sorry  for  my  departure."  ' 

So  he  spake,  and  Hallblithe  would  have  an- 
swered him,  but  by  now  were  they  come  to  a 
grassy  hollow  amidst  the  dale,  where  the  Erne 
had  already  made  the  earth-yoke  ready.  To  wit, 
he  had  loosened  a  strip  of  turf  all  save  the  two 
ends,  and  had  propped  it  up  with  two  ancient 
dwarf-wrought  spears,  so  that  amidmost  there 
was  a  lintel  to  go  under.  So  when  he  saw  those 
others  coming,  he  gave  them  the  sele  of  the  day, 


212      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

and  said  to  Hallblithe:  "What  is  it  to  be?  shall 
I  be  less  than  thy  brother-in-arms  henceforward?  " 
Said  Hallblithe:  "Not  a  whit  less.  It  is  good 
to  have  brothers  in  other  lands  than  one." 

So  they  made  no  delay,  but  clad  in  all  their 
war- gear,  they  went  under  the  earth-yoke  one  after 
the  other;  thereafter  they  stood  together,  and 
each  let  blood  in  his  arm,  so  that  the  blood  of 
all  three  mingled  together  fell  down  on  the  grass 
of  the  ancient  earth;  and  they  swore  friendship 
and  brotherhood  each  to  each. 

But  when  all  was  done  the  Erne  spake :  "  Brother 
Hallblithe,  as  I  lay  awake  in  bed  this  morning 
I  deemed  that  I  would  take  ship  with  thee  to 
Cleveland  by  the  Sea,  that  I  might  dwell  there 
a  while.  But  when  I  came  out  of  the  hall,  and 
saw  the  dale  lying  green  betwixt  hill-side  and 
hill-side,  and  the  glittering  river  running  down 
amidmost,  and  the  sheep,  and  kine,  and  horses 
feeding  up  and  down  on  either  side  the  water: 
and  I  looked  up  at  the  fells  and  saw  how  deep 
blue  they  stood  up  against  the  snowy  peaks,  and 
I  thought  of  all  our  deeds  on  the  deep  sea,  and 
the  merry  nights  in  yonder  abode  of  men.  Then 
I  thought  that  I  would  not  leave  the  kindred, 
were  it  but  for  a  while,  unless  war  and  lifting 
called  me.  So  now  I  will  ride  with  thee  to  the 
ship,  and  then  farewell  to  thee." 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING   MEN.  213 

"It  is  good,"  said  Hallblithe,  "though  not  as 
good  as  it  might  be.  Glad  had  we  been  with 
thee  in  the  hall  of  the  Ravens." 

As  he  spoke  drew  anigh  the  carles  leading  the 
horses,  and  with  them  came  six  of  those  damsels 
whom  the  Erne  had  given  to  Hallblithe  the  night 
before ;  two  of  whom  asked  to  be  brought  to  their 
kindred  over  sea;  but  the  other  four  were  fain 
to  go  with  Hallblithe  and  the  Hostage,  and  be- 
come their  sisters  at  Cleveland  by  the  Sea. 

So  then  they  got  to  horse  and  rode  down  the 
dale  toward  the  haven,  and  the  carles  rode  with 
them,  so  that  of  weaponed  men  they  were  a  score 
in  company.  But  when  they  were  half-way  to 
the  haven  they  saw  where  hard  by  three  knolls 
on  the  way-side  were  men  standing  with  their 
weapons  and  war-gear  glittering  in  the  sun.  So 
the  Erne  laughed  and  said :  "  Shall  we  have  a 
word  with  War-brand  then.!*"  But  they  rode 
steadily  on  their  way,  and  when  they  came  up  to 
the  knolls  they  saw  that  it  was  War-brand  indeed 
with  a  score  of  men  at  his  back;  but  they  stirred 
not  when  they  saw  Erne's  company  that  it  was 
great.  Then  Erne  laughed  aloud  and  cried  out 
in  a  big  voice,  "What,  lads!  ye  ride  early  this 
morning;  are  there  foemen  abroad  in  the  isle.^" 
They  shrank  back  before  him,  but  a  carle  of  those 
who  was  hindermost  cried  out :  "  Art  thou  com- 


214      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

ing  back  to  us,  Erne,  or  have  thy  new  friends 
bought  thee  to  lead  them  in  battle?" 

"  Fear  it  nought,"  quoth  Erne,  "  I  shall  be  back 
before  the  shepherd's  noon." 

So  they  went  their  ways  and  came  to  the  haven, 
and  there  lay  the  Flaming  Sword,  and  beside  her 
a  trim  bark,  not  right  great,  all  ready  for  sea :  and 
Hallblithe's  skiff  was  made  fast  to  her  for  an 
after-boat. 

Then  the  Hostage  and  Hallblithe  and  the  six 
damsels  went  aboard  her,  and  when  the  Erne  had 
bidden  them  farewell,  they  cast  off  the  hawsers 
and  thrust  her  out  through  the  haven-mouth;  but 
ere  they  had  got  midmost  of  the  haven,  they  saw 
the  Erne,  that  he  had  turned  about,  and  was 
riding  up  the  dale  with  his  house-carles,  and 
each  man's  weapon  was  shining  in  his  hand: 
and  they  wondered  if  he  were  riding  to  battle 
with  War-brand;  and  Fox  said:  "  Meseemeth  our 
brother- in-arms  hath  in  his  mind  to  give  those 
waylayers  an  evil  minute,  and  verily  he  is  the 
man  to  do  the  same." 

So  they  gat  them  out  of  the  haven,  and  the 
ebb-tide  drave  out  seaward  strongly,  and  the 
wind  was  fair  for  Cleveland  by  the  Sea;  and 
they  ran  speedily  past  the  black  cliffs  of  the  Isle 
of  Ransom,  and  soon  were  they  hull  down  be- 
hind  them.     But  on   the   afternoon  of  the  next 


OR,   THE   LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  21 5 

day  they  hove  up  the  land  of  the  kindreds,  and 
by  sunset  they  beached  their  ship  on  the  sand 
by  the  Rollers  of  the  Raven,  and  went  ashore 
without  more  ado.  And  the  strand  was  empty 
of  all  men,  even  as  on  the  day  when  Hallblithe 
first  met  the  Puny  Fox.  So  then  in  the  cool  of 
the  evening  they  went  up  toward  the  House  of 
the  Raven.  Those  damsels  went  together  hand' 
in  hand  two  by  two,  and  Hallblithe  held  the 
Hostage  by  the  hand;  but  the  Puny  Fox  went 
alone  beside  them,  gleeful  and  of  many  words; 
telling  them  tales  of  his  wiles  and  his  craft,  and 
his  skin-changing. 

"But  now,"  quoth  he,  "I  have  left  all  that 
behind  me  in  the  Isle  of  Ransom,  and  have  but 
one  shape,  and  I  would  for  your  behoof  that  it 
were  a  goodlier  one :  and  but  one  wisdom  have 
I,  even  that  which  dwelleth  in  mine  own  head- 
bone.  Yet  it  may  be  that  this  may  avail  you 
one  time  or  other.  But  lo  you !  though  I  am  thy 
thrall,  have  I  not  the  look  of  a  thrall-huckster 
from  over  sea  leading  up  my  wares  to  the  cheap- 
ing  stead.''  "  They  laughed  at  his  words  and  were 
merry,  and  much  love  there  was  amongst  them 
as  they  went  up  to  the  House  of  the  Raven. 

But  when  they  came  thither  they  went  into  the 
garth,  and  there  was  no  man  therein,  for  it  was 
now   dusk,    and    the   windows   of   the    long   hall 


2l6      THE    STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING    PLAIN; 

were  yellow  with  candle-light.  Then  said  Fox: 
"Abide  ye  here  a  little;  for  I  would  go  into  the 
hall  alone  and  see  the  conditions  of  thy  people, 
O  Hallblithe." 

"Go  thou,  then,"  said  Hallblithe,  "but  be  not 
rash,  I  counsel  thee;  for  our  folk  are  not  over- 
patient  when  they  deem  they  have  a  foe  before 
them." 

The  Puny  Fox  laughed,  and  said :  "  So  it  is 
then  the  world  over,  that  happy  men  are  wilful 
and  masterful."  Then  he  drew  his  sword  and 
smote  on  the  door  with  the  pommel,  and  the 
door  opened  to  him  and  in  he  went :  and  he 
found  that  fair  hall  full  of  folk  and  bright  with 
candles;  and  he  stood  amidst  the  floor;  all  men 
looked  on  him,  and  many  knew  him  at  once  to 
be  a  man  of  the  Ravagers,  and  silence  fell  upon 
the  hall,  but  no  man  stirred  hand  against  him. 
Then  he  said:  "Will  ye  hearken  to  the  word  of 
an  evil  man,  a  robber  of  the  folks.''" 

Spake  a  chieftain  from  the  dais:  "Words 
will  not  hurt  us,  sea-warrior;  and  thou  art  but 
one  among  many;  wherefore  thy  might  this  eve 
is  but  as  the  might  of  a  new-born  baby.  Speak, 
and  afterwards  eat  and  drink,  and  depart  safe 
from  amongst  us  !  " 

Spake  the  Puny  Fox:  "What  is  gone  with 
Hallblithe,   a  fair   young   man  of  your    kindred. 


OR,   THE   LAND    OF   LIVING   MEN.  21/ 

and  with  the  Hostage  of  the  Rose,  his  troth- 
plight  maiden  ?  " 

Then  was  the  hush  yet  greater  in  the  hall,  so 
that  you  might  have  heard  a  pin  drop;  and  the 
chieftain  said :  "  It  is  a  grief  of  ours  that  they 
are  gone,  and  that  none  hath  brought  us  back 
their  dead  bodies  that  we  might  lay  them  in  the 
Acre  of  the  Fathers." 

Then  leapt  up  a  man  from  the  end-long  table 
nigh  to  Fox,  and  cried  out:  "Yea,  folk!  they 
are  gone,  and  we  deem  that  runagates  of  thy 
kindred,  O  new-come  man,  have  stolen  them 
from  us;  wherefor  they  shall  one  day  pay  us." 

Then  laughed  the  Puny  Fox  and  said :  "  Some 
would  say  that  stealing  Hallblithe  was  like  steal- 
ing a  lion,  and  that  he  might  take  care  of  him- 
self; though  he  was  not  as  big  as  I  am." 

Said  the  last  speaker:  "Did  thy  kin  or  didst 
thou  steal  him,  O  evil  man .'' " 

"Yea,  I  stole  him,"  quoth  Fox,  "but  by  sleight, 
and  not  by  might." 

Then  uprose  great  uproar  in  the  hall,  but  the 
chieftain  on  the  high-seat  cried  out:  "Peace, 
peace!"  and  the  noise  abated,  and  the  chieftain 
said:  "Dost  thou  mean  that  thou  comest  hither 
to  give  us  thine  head  for  making  away  with  Hall- 
blithe  and  the  Hostage .?  " 

"I  mean  to  ask  rather,"  said  the  Fox,   "what 


2l8      THE   STORY   OF  THE    GLITTERING   PLAIN; 

thou    wilt    give    me    for    the    bodies    of    these 
twain?  " 

Said  the  chieftain:  "A  boat-load  of  gold  were 
not  too  much  if  thou  shouldst  live  a  little 
longer." 

Quoth  the  Puny  Fox:  "Well,  in  any  wise  I 
will  go  and  bring  in  the  bodies  aforesaid,  and 
leave  my  reward  to  the  goodwill  of  the  Ravens." 

Therewith  he  turned  about  to  go,  but  lo !  there 
already  in  the  door  stood  Hallblithe  holding  the 
Hostage  by  the  hand;  and  many  in  the  hall  saw 
them,  for  the  door  was  wide.'  Then  they  came  in 
and  stood  by  the  side  of  the  Puny  Fox,  and  all 
men  in  the  hall  arose  and  shouted  for  joy.  But 
when  the  tumult  was  a  little  abated,  the  Puny 
Fox  cried  out :  "  O  chieftain,  and  all  ye  folk !  if  a 
boat-load  of  gold  were  not  too  much  reward  for 
the  bringing  back  the  dead  bodies  of  your  friends, 
what  reward  shall  he  have  who  hath  brought 
back  their  bodies  and  the  souls  therein.?"  Said 
the  chieftain:  "The  man  shall  choose  his  own 
reward."  And  the  men  in  the  hall  shouted  their 
yeasay. 

Then  said  the  Puny  Fox:  "Well,  then,  this  I 
choose,  that  ye  make  me  one  of  your  kindred 
before  the  fathers  of  old  time." 

They  all  cried  out  that  he  had  chosen  wisely 
and  manfully;  but   Hallblithe    said:  "I   bid  you 


OR,   THE  LAND   OF   LIVING  MEN.  2ig 

do  for  him  no  less  than  this;  and  ye  shall  wot 
that  he  is  already  my  sworn  brother-in-arms. " 

Now  the  chieftain  cried  out :  "  O  Wanderers 
from  over  the  sea,  come  up  hither  and  sit  with 
us  and  be  merry  at  last !  " 

So  they  went  up  to  the  dais,  Hallblithe  and 
the  Hostage,  and  the  Puny  Fox  and  the  six 
maidens  withal.  And  since  the  night  was  yet 
young,  the  supper  of  the  men  of  the  Ravens  was 
turned  into  the  wedding-feast  of  Hallblithe  and 
the  Hostage,  and  that  very  night  she  became  a 
wife  of  the  Ravens,  that  she  might  bear  to  the 
House  the  best  of  men  and  the  fairest  of  women. 

But  on  the  morrow  they  brought  the  Puny  Fox 
to  the  mote-stead  of  the  kindreds  that  he  might 
stand  before  the  fathers  and  be  made  a  son  of 
the  kindred;  and  this  they  did  because  of  the 
word  of  Hallblithe,  and  because  they  believed 
in  the  tale  which  he  told  them  of  the  Glittering 
Plain  and  the  Acre  of  the  Undying.  The  four 
maidens  also  were  made  sisters  of  the  House; 
and  the  other  twain  were  sent  home  to  their 
own  kindred  in  all  honour. 

Of  the  Puny  Fox  it  is  said  that  he  soon  lost 
and  forgot  all  the  lore  which  he  had  learned  of 
the  ancient  men,  living  and  dead;  and  became  as 
other  men  and  was  no  wizard.  Yet  he  was  ex- 
ceeding valiant  and  doughty;  and  he  ceased  not  to 


220      THE   STORY   OF   THE   GLITTERING   PLAIN. 

go  with  Hallblithe  wheresoever  he  went;  and 
many  deeds  they  did  together,  whereof  the  mem- 
ory of  men  hath  failed :  but  neither  they  nor  any 
man  of  the  Ravens  came  any  more  to  the  Glit- 
tering Plain,  or  heard  any  tidings  of  the  folk 
that  dwell  there. 


THE  END. 


MK.  WILLIAM  MORRIS'S  WORKS. 
THE    EARTHLY    PARADISE. 

^  Collection  of  OTalcs  in  iJcvse. 

PARTS  I.  and  11. 

Prologue,  March,  April,  Mav,  June,  July,  and  August, 
containiug  the  Stories  ol  — 
The  Wanderers.  The  Writing  on  the  Image. 

Atalanta's  Race.  --■   The  Love  ot  Alcestis. 

The  Man  born  to  be  King.  The  Lady  of  the  Land. 

The  Doom  of  King  Acrisius.  The  Son  of  Croesus. 

The  Proud  King.  The  Watching  of  the  Falcon. 

Cupid  and  Psyche.  Pygmalion  and  the  Image. 

Ogier  the  Dane. 

PART   III. 
September,  October,  and  November,  containing  the  Stories  of — 
The  Death  of  Paris.  The   Man   who   Never   Laughed 

The  Land  hast  of  the  Sun  and  Again. 

West  of  the  Moon.  The  Story  of  Rhodope. 

Accontius  and  Cydippe.  The  Lovers  of  Cudrun. 

PART   IV. 

December,  January,  and  February,  Epilogue,  and  L'Envoi, 
containing  the  Stories  of — 
The  Golden  Apples.  The  Ring  given  to  Venus. 

The  Fostering  of  Aslaug.  Eellerophon  in  Lycia. 

Bellerophon  at  Argos.  The  Hill  of  Venus. 

COMPLETE  IN  THREE   VOLUMES. 

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LOVE  IS  ENOUGH;  or,  The  Freeing  of  Pharamond.  A  Morality. 
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THE  STORY  OF  THE  GLITTERING  PLAIN.  Which  has  also  been 
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Messrs.  Roberts  Brothers''  Publications. 

NEWS  FROM  NOWHERE; 

Or,  AN  EPOCH  OF  REST. 

Being  some  chapters  from  a  Utopian  romance.  By  Wil- 
liam Morris,  author  of  "  The  Earthly  Paradise,"  "  Life 
and  Death  of  Jason,"  "  The  House  of  the  Wolfings,"  &c. 
With  a  drawing  by  Walter  Crane,  entitled  "  Labor's  May 
Day."     i6mo.     Cloth.     Price,  $i.oo. 

This  book  and  the  tale  it  tells  are  not  extravagant,  but  show  a 
condition  of  life  which,  although  not  perfect,  would  be  a  long  step 
toward  the  end  sought  by  all  who  have  the  ultimate  "greatest  good 
for  the  greatest  number  "  in  their  hearts. 

A  man  falls  asleep  in  England,  and  wakes  up  in  iggo  to  find  that  a  great  revo- 
lution has  occurred,  —  competition  has  ceased,  labor  has  become  a  pleasure,  the 
city  and  country  have  become  beautiful  with  good  cheer,  and  all  life  is  harmonious 
with  itself.  The  account  possesses  all  the  delicacy  and  grace  the  author  can  give 
it,  and  is  a  noteworthy  addition  to  the  volumes  of  its  kind  —  Public  Opinion. 

Recent  literature  has  been  prolific  in  Utopian  essays,  —  evidences  that  the 
pessimistic  mood  of  the  time  is  not  without  its  protest  in  the  heart  of  the  age. 
Most  of  these  dreams  of  some  improved  social  order  affect  us  as  mere  dreams. 
They  have  an  air  of  unreality;  and  as  we  read,  we  still  keep  our  solid  footing  in 
this  present  world  Mr.  Morris  has  the  poet's  advantage.  He  conducts  us,  as 
he  does  the  hero  or  narrator  of  his  story,  insensibly  and  with  eyes  wide  open  into 
his  new  age  :  and  as  we  read,  it  is  this  our  nineteenth  century  that  becomes  dream- 
like. Our  social  order,  with  its  usages  and  fashions  and  its  teachings,  takes  on 
an  air  of  unreality ;  we  become  past  history ;  and  much  that  we  now  count  as 
firm  and  enduring,  as  part  of  the  necessary  law  and  order  of  Nature,  becomes 
the  mere  ruin  and  rubbish  of  time.  It  is  the  new  world  of  Mr.  Morris's  vision 
that  IS  the  veritable,  substantial,  and  enduring  world.  —Home  Journal. 

The  London  of  iggo  is  pictured  as  an  earthly  paradise.  The  Thames  is  clear 
and  sparkling;  the  air  smokeless  and  invigorating.  Poverty,  crime,  desolation, 
and  misery  are  unknown.  There  is  no  need  of  money,  because  every  one  gives 
to  his  neighbor.  There  are  no  courts  of  law,  because  there  is  no  wrong-doing, 
and  the  whole  moral  status  of  the  world  is  changed.  As  every  one  has  a  strong 
and  healthy  body,  work  is  merely  a  pleasure;  and  those  who  wish  to  labor  may 
pass  their  lives  in  only  a  reasonable  strife  with  Nature.  The  author  does  not 
overlook  the  fact  that  a  mighty  conflict  must  have  antedated  these  stupendous 
changes:  and  we  read  that  this  terrible  transition  period,  before  the  realization 
of  a  perfect  communal  life,  occurred  late  in  the  present  century,  when  the  tre- 
mendous power  of  the  middle  classes  was  roused  to  crush  the  tyrants  of  society. 
—  Journal  of  Education. 

Sold  by  all  booksellers.  Mailed,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price,  by 
the  Publishers, 

ROBERTS  BROTHERS,  Boston. 


By  the  same  Atit/ior, 
THE 

LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   JASON. 

A  Poem  in  17  Books, 
In  one  volume,  i6mo,  doth,  price  $  1.50. 


"Morris's  'Jason'  is  in  the  purest,  simplest,  most  idiomatic  English; 
full  of  freshness,  full  of  life,  vivid  in  landscape,  vivid  in  human  action, 
worth  reading  at  the  cost  of  many  leisure  hours  even  to  a  busy  man."  — 
The  Times. 

"  Not  many  living  Englishmen  have  written  so  good  a  poem  on  such  a 
scale.  Mr.  Morris  is  a  most  skilful  narrator,  full  of  the  sweet  garrulity 
proper  to  the  olden  time  and  those  that  love  it."  —  T/ie  Guardian. 

"  Mr.  Morris  has  displayed  poetic  qualities  rare  in  themselves,  and 
especially  rare  in  these  days.  We  should  have  to  go  back  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  to  find  any  labor  of  equal  pretension  that  exhibits  the  same 
amount  of  fortitude  in  the  writer  and  the  same  intimate  knowledge  of  all 
that  relates  to  his  theme."  —  The  Athemeutn. 

"  'The  Life  and  Death  of  Jason  '  is  a  fine  poem,  which  never  flags  in 
interest  for  a  single  line,  and  is  full  of  music,  life,  and  clear  vision.  The 
freshness  of  the  early  world '  has  taken  complete  possession  of  Mr. 
Morris  as  he  wrote."  —  The  Spectator. 

"  In  all  the  noble  roll  of  our  poets  there  has  been  since  Chaucer  no 
second  teller  of  Tales,  no  second  rhapsode  comparable  to  the  first,  till  the 
advent  of  this  one.  Rarely  but  in  the  ballad  and  romance  periods  has 
such  poetry  been  written,  so  broad  and  sad  and  simple,  so  full  of  deep 
and  direct  fire,  certain  of  its  aim,  without  finish,  without  fault."  —  Fort- 
nightly Review. 

"Open  this  poem  where  the  reader  may,  he  will  find  in  it  broad  and 
simple  pictures  of  the  olden  days.  It  is  true  art  alone  which  can  draw 
pictures  with  this  living  simplicity,  whether  in  bare  outline  or  in  full  blaze 
of  color ;  and  this  art  Mr.  Morris  possesses  in  a  high  degree."  —  T/te 
Standard. 

"  Musical,  clear,  and  flowing,  strangely  imaginative  and  suggestive, 
presenting  pictures  of  almost  incomparable  beauty,  it  is  a  work  of  which 
an  epoch  may  be  proud."  —  Sunday  Times. 


H  DAY  rjsp 

LOAN  DEpfRwISf^o^ro 
•n.«  book  i  <iuj«6heaKB«U,IIB5A?vY 

^^to  immediate  recall. 


' *Be#4il--^ 


'■.^ 


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